Compositions and methods for inhibiting expression of mutant egfr gene

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) targeting a mutant Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), and methods of using the dsRNA to inhibit expression of mutant EGFR.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/093,620, filed Sep. 2, 2008, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/095,487, filed Sep. 9, 2008, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/147,668, filed Jan. 27, 2009, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/147,680, filed Jan. 27, 2009, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/166,488, filed Apr. 3, 2009. Each of these provisional applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) targeting a mutant Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), and methods of using the dsRNA to inhibit expression of mutant EGFR.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) gene is frequently upregulated in carcinomas of the breast, kidney, ovary, cervix, and in squamous cells. The upregulation is typically due to gene amplification or overexpression. EGFR upregulation in gliomas is most often associated with the rearrangement of the EGFR gene resulting in alterations of its transcript so that such gliomas express both wild-type endogenous EGFR as well as the episomal mutant form. The most common of the rearrangements are genomic alterations leading to deletion of exons 2-7 in the EGFR mRNA (called ds 2-7 EGFR, deltaEGFR, EGFR-de2-7, or EGFRvIII), which causes an in-frame truncation of 801 bp in the extracellular domain of the molecule. The EGFR gene is amplified in >50% of glioblastomas. This amplification is often associated with expression of deltaEGFR, which conveys enhanced tumor aggressiveness.

Double-stranded RNA molecules (dsRNA) have been shown to block gene expression in a highly conserved regulatory mechanism known as RNA interference (RNAi). WO 99/32619 (Fire et al.) disclosed the use of a dsRNA of at least 25 nucleotides in length to inhibit the expression of genes in C. elegans. dsRNA has also been shown to degrade target RNA in other organisms, including plants (see, e.g., WO 99/53050, Waterhouse et al.; and WO 99/61631, Heifetz et al.), Drosophila (see, e.g., Yang, D., et al., Curr. Biol. (2000) 10:1191-1200), and mammals (see WO 00/44895, Limmer; and DE 101 00 586.5, Kreutzer et al.).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides compositions containing double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) and methods for inhibiting the expression of a mutant EGFR gene, such as a deltaEGFR gene, in a cell or mammal. The invention also provides compositions and methods for treating pathological conditions and diseases caused by the expression of deltaEGFR gene, such as cancer, including glioma. The dsRNAs included in the compositions featured herein include a dsRNA having an RNA strand (the antisense strand) having a region which is less than 30 nucleotides in length, generally 19-24 nucleotides in length, and is substantially complementary to at least part of an mRNA transcript of the deltaEGFR gene. In some embodiments, the dsRNA also targets a wildtype mRNA transcript of the EGFR gene.

In one embodiment, a dsRNA for inhibiting expression of a deltaEGFR gene includes at least two sequences that are complementary to each other. The dsRNA includes a sense strand having a first sequence and an antisense strand having a second sequence. The antisense strand includes a nucleotide sequence that is substantially complementary to at least part of an mRNA encoding deltaEGFR, and the region of complementarity is less than 30 nucleotides in length, and at least 15 nucleotides in length. Generally, the dsRNA is 19 to 24, e.g., 19 to 21 nucleotides in length. In some embodiments the dsRNA is from about 10 to about 15 nucleotides in length, and in other embodiments the dsRNA is from about 25 to about 30 nucleotides in length. The dsRNA, upon contacting with a cell expressing deltaEGFR, inhibits the expression of the deltaEGFR gene by at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, or at least 40%, such as when assayed by a method as described herein. In one embodiment, the deltaEGFR dsRNA is formulated in a stable nucleic acid particle (SNALP).

For example, the dsRNA molecules featured herein can include a first sequence of the dsRNA that is selected from the group consisting of the sense sequences of Tables 2, 3 and 4, and a second sequence that is selected from the group consisting of the antisense sequences of Tables 2, 3 and 4. The dsRNA molecules featured herein can include naturally occurring nucleotides or can include at least one modified nucleotide, such as a 2′-O-methyl modified nucleotide, a nucleotide having a 5′-phosphorothioate group, and a terminal nucleotide linked to a conjugate group, such as a cholesteryl derivative or a vitamin E group. Alternatively, the modified nucleotide may be chosen from the group of: a 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro modified nucleotide, a 2′-deoxy-modified nucleotide, a locked nucleotide, an abasic nucleotide, 2′-amino-modified nucleotide, 2′-alkyl-modified nucleotide, morpholino nucleotide, a phosphoramidate, and a non-natural base comprising nucleotide. Generally, such modified sequence will be based on a first sequence of said dsRNA selected from the group consisting of the sense sequences of Tables 2, 3 and 4 and a second sequence selected from the group consisting of the antisense sequences of Tables 2, 3 and 4.

In one aspect, an interleukin-6 (IL6) dsRNA is also featured in the invention, and the IL-6 dsRNA is capable of decreasing levels of IL6 protein secretion in cultured cells, e.g., human cultured cells. In one embodiment, the cultured cells are U87-ΔEGFR cells. In another embodiment, the IL-6 dsRNA is capable of decreasing IL6 secretion into culture supernatant by 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90% or more. In yet another embodiment, the IL6 dsRNA is capable of reducing tumor volume in an animal model, such as in a mouse, rat, or primate model. In another embodiment, a first sequence of an IL6 dsRNA is selected from the group consisting of the sense sequences of Tables 5, 6, 7, and 8, a second sequence is selected from the group consisting of the antisense sequences of Tables 5, 6, 7, and 8.

In another aspect, the invention provides a cell containing at least one of the dsRNAs featured in the invention. The cell is generally a mammalian cell, such as a human cell.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting the expression of a deltaEGFR gene in an organism, generally a human subject. The composition typically includes one or more of the dsRNAs described herein and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or delivery vehicle. In one embodiment, the composition is used for treating cancer, e.g., a glioma.

In another embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition is formulated for administration of a dosage regimen described herein, e.g., not more than once every four weeks, not more than once every three weeks, not more than once every two weeks, or not more than once every week. In another embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition can be maintained for a month or longer, e.g., one, two, three, or six months, or one year or longer.

In another embodiment, a composition containing a dsRNA featured in the invention, e.g., a dsRNA targeting deltaEGFR, is administered with a non-dsRNA therapeutic agent, such as an agent known to treat a cancer, such as a glioma. For example, a dsRNA featured in the invention can be administered with, e.g, a chemotherapeutic agent, such as temozolomide, or with radiation therapy.

In one embodiment, the composition further includes a dsRNA having at least two sequences that are complementary to each other, and where a sense strand includes a region of complementarity that is substantially complementary to at least a part of an mRNA encoding an IL6 protein, and where the region of complementarity is less than 30 nucleotides in length and at least 15 nucleotides in length. Generally, the IL6 dsRNA is 19 to 24, e.g., 19 to 21 nucleotides in length. In some embodiments, the dsRNA is from about 10 to about 15 nucleotides in length, and in other embodiments the dsRNA is from about 25 to about 30 nucleotides in length. In another embodiment, a first sequence of the IL6 dsRNA is selected from the group consisting of the sense sequences of Tables 5, 6, 7, and 8, a second sequence is selected from the group consisting of the antisense sequences of Tables 5, 6, 7, and 8.

In another aspect, the deltaEGFR dsRNA is administered to a patient, and then a non-dsRNA agent is administered to the patient (or vice versa). In one embodiment, the deltaEGFR dsRNA and the non-dsRNA therapeutic agent are administered at the same time. In another embodiment, the deltaEGFR dsRNA is administered with an IL6 dsRNA, such as for the treatment of cancer.

In certain embodiments, the patient has a cancer, e.g., a tumor, such as an astrocytic tumor, or a glioma.

In one aspect, the invention provides a method for inhibiting the expression of a deltaEGFR gene in a cell by performing the following steps:

-   -   (a) introducing into the cell a double-stranded ribonucleic acid         (dsRNA), wherein the dsRNA includes at least two sequences that         are complementary to each other. The dsRNA has a sense strand         having a first sequence and an antisense strand having a second         sequence; the antisense strand has a region of complementarity         that is substantially complementary to at least a part of a mRNA         encoding deltaEGFR, and where the region of complementarity is         less than 30 nucleotides in length, generally 19-24 nucleotides         in length, and where the dsRNA, upon contact with a cell         expressing the deltaEGFR, inhibits expression of the deltaEGFR         gene by at least 40%;     -   and     -   (b) maintaining the cell produced in step (a) for a time         sufficient to obtain degradation of the mRNA transcript of         deltaEGFR gene, thereby inhibiting expression of the deltaEGFR         gene in the cell.

In one embodiment, the dsRNA that inhibits expression of the deltaEGFR gene also inhibits expression of a wildtype EGFR gene in the cell. Typically, such a dsRNA can inhibit both deltaEGFR expression and wildtype EGFR expression, because the antisense strand has a region of complementarity that is substantially complementary to at least a part of an mRNA encoding deltaEGFR and at least part of an mRNA encoding wildtype EGFR.

In another embodiment, the method is for inhibiting gene expression in a tumor cell.

In another aspect, the invention provides methods for treating, preventing or managing pathological processes mediated by deltaEGFR expression, e.g., a cancer, such as a glioma, e.g., a glial tumor of the central nervous system, such as a grade I, II, III, or IV glioma. For example, a dsRNA targeting deltaEGFR is used to treat a grade III glioma, such as anaplastic astrocytoma, or a grade IV glioma, such as a glioblastoma multiforme. In other embodiments, a dsRNA targeting deltaEGFR is used to treat a carcinoma of the breast, ovary, cervix, kidney, or squamous cell. In one embodiment, the deltaEGFR dsRNA is administered with a second dsRNA, such as an IL6 dsRNA, for treatment of a disorder associated with deltaEGFR expression. The IL6 and deltaEGFR dsRNAs can be administered in combination or sequentially. In yet another embodiment, an IL6 dsRNA alone is administered to treat a disorder associated with deltaEGFR expression.

A method featured in the invention can include administering to a patient in need of such treatment, prevention or management a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of one or more of the dsRNAs featured in the invention, e.g., one or both of a dsRNA targeting deltaEGFR or IL6. In one embodiment the patient has cancer. In another embodiment, administration of the dsRNA targeting deltaEGFR and/or the dsRNA targeting IL6, alleviates or relieves the severity of at least one symptom of the deltaEGFR-mediated disorder in the patient.

In another aspect, the invention provides a vector for inhibiting the expression of a deltaEGFR gene in a cell. In one embodiment, the vector includes at least one regulatory sequence operably linked to a nucleotide sequence that encodes at least one strand of one of a dsRNA featured in the invention.

In another aspect, the invention provides a vector for inhibiting the expression of an IL6 gene in a cell. In one embodiment, the vector includes at least one regulatory sequence operably linked to a nucleotide sequence that encodes at least one strand of one of a dsRNA featured in the invention.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a cell containing a vector for inhibiting the expression of a deltaEGFR gene in a cell. The vector includes a regulatory sequence operably linked to a nucleotide sequence that encodes at least one strand of one of the deltaEGFR dsRNA featured in the invention. In one embodiment, the cell also contains a vector for inhibiting expression of an IL6 gene in a cell. This vector also has a regulatory sequence operably linked to a nucleotide sequence that encodes at least one strand of an IL6 dsRNA featured in the invention.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a composition containing a deltaEGFR dsRNA, in combination with a second dsRNA targeting a second gene involved in a pathological disease, and useful for treating the disease, e.g., cancer. In one embodiment, the second dsRNA is a dsRNA targeting IL6.

The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and the drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGS. 1A and 1B are graphs showing tumor growth kinetics (FIG. 1A) and tumor volume (FIG. 1B) following injection of cells subcutaneously into the right flank of 4 to 5 weeks-old female athymic nude mice.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of brain cryo-sections from mice. FIG. 2A is H&E staining of brain cryo-sections from nude mice injected intracranially with cells, and FIG. 2B shows H&E staining of brain cryo-sections of mice injected intracranially with cells either alone or mixed with deltaEGFR over-expressing astrocytes (upper panel). The lower panel shows the presence of wtEGFR astrocytes within the tumor by immunofluorescence (GFP IF).

FIG. 3A is a graph showing the composition of various tumor samples in 4 to 5 week old mice injected with the indicated cell types, as assayed by X-Gal staining. FIG. 3B is a graph showing the composition of tumor samples as assayed by flow cytometry using Ab-1 (FITC) and Ab-5 (APC) antibodies to stain tumors formed after infection of U87wt mixed with U87delta at the indicated ratios.

FIG. 4 is a panel of Western blots showing analysis of EGFR activation and known downstream signaling molecules in U87wt cells stimulated with serial dilutions of U87delta CM or negative control U87Par CM, or positive control EGF ligand.

FIGS. 5A-5C are Western blots showing the activity of siRNAs targeting deltaEGFR (FIG. 5A), wildtype EGFR (FIG. 5B), or both mutant and wildtype receptors (FIG. 5C). C1, C2, C3, and CA indicate negative controls (untransfected cells).

FIGS. 6A-6C are Western blots showing the activity of siRNAs targeting deltaEGFR (FIG. 6A) or wildtype EGFR (FIG. 6C). FIG. 6B shows the activity of siRNAs specific for deltaEGFR (AD-13375) or wtEGFR (AD-13377) in U87-deltaEGFR cells or U87-wtEGFR cells, respectively. Luc and (−) indicate negative controls (cells transfected with an irrelevant gene siRNA (targeting luciferase) and untransfected cells, respectively).

FIGS. 7A and 7B are Western blots showing dose response activity of siRNA activity in U87-deltaEGFR cells (FIG. 7A) and in U87-wtEGFR cells (FIG. 7B). U87-deltaEGFR cells were transfected with siRNAs specific for deltaEGFR, and for both mutant and wildtype receptors. U87-wtEGFR cells were transfected with siRNAs specific for wtEGFR, and for both mutant and wildtype receptors. C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, and C6 indicate negative controls (untransfected cells).

FIGS. 8A-8D are Western blots showing durability of the effect of unstabilized (FIGS. 8A and 8B) and stabilized (FIGS. 8C and 8D) siRNAs. In FIGS. 8A and 8C, U87-deltaEGFR cells were transfected with non-stabilized (FIG. 8A) or stabilized (FIG. 8C) siRNAs. In FIGS. 8B and 8D, U87-wtEGFR cells were transfected with unstabilized (FIG. 8B) or stabilized (FIG. 8D) siRNAs. Lysates were prepared and Western blots were performed at the indicated day post-transfection. Luc and (−) indicate negative controls (cells transfected with an irrelevant gene siRNA (targeting luciferase) and untransfected cells, respectively).

FIGS. 9A and 9B are graphs showing the effects of siRNAs on tumorigenicity in mice injected with U87-wtEGFR cells (FIG. 9A) and in mice injected with U87-deltaEGFR cells (FIG. 9B). Lysates were prepared and Western blots were performed at the indicated day post-transfection. Data are shown as mean±standard deviation (SD).

FIGS. 10A and 10B are graphs showing tumor kinetics (FIG. 10A) and volume (FIG. 10B) in nude mice injected with U87delta cells and then injected intratumorally with 5 mg of deltaEGFR siRNA#1 or irrelevant siRNA (siRNA luc).

FIG. 11 is the mRNA sequence of IL-6 reported at GenBank Accession No. NM_(—)000600.2 (record dated Jan. 4, 2009, GI No. 155369258; SEQ ID NO:274).

FIGS. 12A and 12B are graphs showing screening analysis of stabilized siRNAs designed for IL-6 by ELISA. FIG. 12A demonstrates the effect of the siRNAs on their target cytokines. Specificity of the siRNAs for IL-6 was assessed by quantifying IL-8 levels (FIG. 12B). Values are mean±SE of 2 independent samples. (“Neg”: siRNA targeting an irrelevant sequence).

FIGS. 13A and 13B are graphs showing dose-response analysis of stabilized IL-6 siRNAs. Quantification of secreted IL-6 (FIG. 13A) and IL-8 (FIG. 13B) in supernatants from U87-ΔEGFR cells transfected with 100, 20, 4, and 0.8 nM of different IL-6 siRNAs was performed by ELISA. Values are mean±SE of 2 independent samples. (“Neg”: siRNA targeting an irrelevant sequence).

FIG. 14 is a graph illustrating durability analysis of stabilized IL-6 siRNAs. Quantification of secreted IL-6 in supernatants of U87-ΔEGFR cells at different days after transfection with the siRNAs was performed by ELISA. (“Neg2”: siRNA targeting an irrelevant sequence).

FIGS. 15A and 15B are two graphs illustrating ex vivo tumorigenicity test of IL-6-specific stabilized siRNAs. The graphs show tumor growth kinetics (top) and tumor volume at the end of the experiment (bottom) after injection into nude mice of U87-deltaEGFR cells transfected with stabilized siRNAs against luciferase or GFP, IL-6 (AD-15644 and AD-15660). The experimental group included 6 animals. Data are shown as mean±SE.

FIGS. 16A and 16B are graphs illustrating the efficacy of in vivo delivery of IL-6 siRNAs (AD-15644 and AD-15660). Tumor growth kinetics (FIG. 11A) and tumor volume at the end of the experiment (FIG. 11B) was reduced in tumors treated with IL-6 specific siRNA AD-15660, but not in tumors treated with a siRNA against luciferase. Each group included 4 animals. Data are shown as mean±SE.

FIGS. 17A and 17B are graphs illustrating tumor volume (A) and tumor growth kinetics (B) after subcutaneous injection of the indicated cell types into nude mice. Tumor volume (FIG. 17A) was assayed at day 32 after injection.

FIG. 18 is a graph illustrating quantification of soft agar colony formation of U87wt colonies formed after treatment with normal media (Neg), or U87Δ (ΔCM (conditioned medium)), U87Par (parental CM), or U87Par-IL6 (parental-IL6) CM (*: p<0.05; ** p<0.001).

FIG. 19 is a graph illustrating quantification of soft agar colony formation of U87wt colonies formed after treatment with normal media (negative control, Neg), or with U87Δ cell CM untreated (ΔCM) or pretreated with IL-6 neutralizing antibody (ΔCM+IL-6 Ab) (**: p<0.001).

FIGS. 20A and 20 B are graphs illustrating tumor growth kinetics (A) and tumor volume at day 20 (B) after subcutaneous injection of U87wt, U87Δ-Luc siRNA or U87Δ-IL6 siRNA cells only, or U87wt cells mixed with U87Δ-Luc siRNA or U87Δ-IL6 siRNA cells at a ratio of 90:10.

FIGS. 21A and 21B represent the mRNA sequence of wtEGFR (SEQ ID NO:1) (GenBank Accession No. NM_(—)005228; record dated Aug. 24, 2008, GI No. 41327737). The underlined nucleotides are deleted in deltaEGFR mRNA sequence.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides dsRNAs and methods of using the dsRNAs for inhibiting the expression of a deltaEGFR gene in a cell or a mammal where the dsRNA targets the deltaEGFR gene. In some embodiments, the dsRNAs featured in the invention target both a deltaEGFR gene and a wildtype EGFR (wtEGFR) gene. The invention also provides dsRNAs and methods of using the dsRNAs for inhibiting the expression of an IL6 gene in a cell or a mammal where the dsRNA targets the IL6 gene. The invention provides compositions and methods for treating pathological conditions and diseases, such as a cancer, in a mammal caused by the expression of the deltaEGFR or IL6 genes. dsRNA directs the sequence-specific degradation of mRNA through a process known as RNA interference (RNAi).

The dsRNAs of the compositions featured herein include an RNA strand (the antisense strand) having a region which is less than 30 nucleotides in length, generally 19-24 nucleotides in length, and is substantially complementary to at least part of an mRNA transcript of the deltaEGFR gene. The use of these dsRNAs enables the targeted degradation of mRNAs of genes that are implicated in replication or maintenance of cancer cells in mammals. Very low dosages of deltaEGFR or IL6 dsRNAs in particular can specifically and efficiently mediate RNAi, resulting in significant inhibition of expression of the deltaEGFR and IL6 genes. Using cell-based and animal assays, the present inventors have demonstrated that dsRNAs targeting deltaEGFR alone, or targeting both deltaEGFR and wtEGFR, can specifically and efficiently mediate RNAi, resulting in significant inhibition of expression of one or both of the deltaEGFR or EGFR genes. Thus, methods and compositions including these dsRNAs are useful for treating pathological processes that can be mediated by down regulating deltaEGFR and EGFR, such as in the treatment of cancer.

Using cell-based and animal assays, the present inventors have also demonstrated that dsRNAs targeting IL6 can also specifically and efficiently mediate RNAi, resulting in significant inhibition of expression of an IL6 gene. Thus, methods and compositions including these dsRNAs are useful for treating pathological processes that can be mediated by down regulating IL6, such as in the treatment of cancer.

The methods and compositions containing the deltaEGFR or IL6 dsRNA featured in the invention are useful for treating pathological processes mediated by deltaEGFR or IL6 expression, e.g., cancer, such as glioma.

The following detailed description discloses how to make and use the compositions containing dsRNAs to inhibit the expression of the deltaEGFR or IL6 genes, as well as compositions and methods for treating diseases and disorders caused by the expression of these genes, such as leukemia. The pharmaceutical compositions featured in the invention include a dsRNA having an antisense strand comprising a region of complementarity which is less than 30 nucleotides in length, generally 19-24 nucleotides in length, and is substantially complementary to at least part of an RNA transcript of the deltaEGFR or IL6 gene, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The compositions featured in the invention also include a dsRNA having an antisense strand having a region of complementarity which is less than 30 nucleotides in length, generally 19-24 nucleotides in length, and which is substantially complementary to at least part of an RNA transcript of the deltaEGFR or IL6 gene.

Accordingly, in some aspects, pharmaceutical compositions containing the deltaEGFR dsRNA and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, methods of using the compositions to inhibit expression of the deltaEGFR gene, and methods of using the pharmaceutical compositions to treat diseases caused by expression of the deltaEGFR gene are featured in the invention.

In other aspects, pharmaceutical compositions containing the IL6 dsRNA and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, methods of using the compositions to inhibit expression of an IL6 gene, and methods of using the pharmaceutical compositions to treat diseases caused by expression of the IL6 gene are featured in the invention.

I. DEFINITIONS

For convenience, the meaning of certain terms and phrases used in the specification, examples, and appended claims, are provided below. If there is an apparent discrepancy between the usage of a term in other parts of this specification and its definition provided in this section, the definition in this section shall prevail.

“G,” “C,” “A,” “T” and “U” each generally stand for a nucleotide that contains guanine, cytosine, adenine, thymidine and uracil as a base, respectively. However, it will be understood that the term “ribonucleotide” or “nucleotide” can also refer to a modified nucleotide, as further detailed below, or a surrogate replacement moiety. The skilled person is well aware that guanine, cytosine, adenine, thymidine, and uracil may be replaced by other moieties without substantially altering the base pairing properties of an oligonucleotide comprising a nucleotide bearing such replacement moiety. For example, without limitation, a nucleotide comprising inosine as its base may base pair with nucleotides containing adenine, cytosine, or uracil. Hence, nucleotides containing uracil, guanine, or adenine may be replaced in the nucleotide sequences of dsRNA featured in the invention by a nucleotide containing, for example, inosine. In another example, adenine and cytosine anywhere in the oligonucleotide can be replaced with guanine and uracil, respectively to form G-U Wobble base pairing with the target mRNA. Sequences containing such replacement moieties are suitable for the compositions and methods featured in the invention.

As used herein, “deltaEGFR” refers to an in-frame deletion of exons 2-7 from the EGFR gene. deltaEGFR is also known as “de 2-7 EGFR” (Nishikawa et al. “A mutant epidermal growth factor receptor common in human glioma confers enhanced tumorigenicity” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:7727-7731, 1994), “EGFR-de2-7”, “EGFR*”, “ΔEGFR”, and “EGFRvIII.” The sequence of deltaEGFR is equivalent to the sequence shown at FIGS. 21A and 21B carrying a deletion of nucleotides 335 through 1135.

As used herein, “wild-type EGFR” (“wtEGFR”) refers to a non-mutant EGFR gene (e.g., an endogenous EGFR gene) in a cell, such as in a non-transformed, or non-cancerous cell in a human. EGFR is also known as EC2.7.10.1 (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Precursor), ERBB (Receptor Protein Tyrosine Kinase ErbB1), ERBB1, HER1, PIG61 (cell proliferation-inducing protein 61), mENA, avian erythroblastic leukemia viral (v-erb-b) oncogene homolog, and cell growth inhibiting protein 40. The sequence of four alternative wildtype EGFR mRNA transcripts can be found at Genbank Accession Numbers NM_(—)005228.3 (record dated Aug. 24, 2008, GI No. 41327737; see FIGS. 21A and 21B), NM_(—)201282.1 (record dated Aug. 24, 2008, GI No. 41327731), NM_(—)201283.1 (record dated Aug. 24, 2008, GI No. 41327733), and NM_(—)201284.1 (record dated Aug. 24, 2008, GI No. 41327735).

As used herein “Interleukin-6” (“IL-6”) refers to an IL-6 gene (e.g., an endogenous IL-6 gene) in a cell, such as in a non-transformed, or non-cancerous cell in a human.

IL-6 is also known as Interleukin 6; IFNB2 (Interferon beta 2, or interferon, beta 2); BSF-2 (B-cell stimulatory factor 2); BSF2; CDF (CTL differentiation factor); HGF (hybridoma growth factor); HSF. The mRNA sequence of IL-6 is at GenBank Accession No. NM_(—)000600.2 (FIG. 11) (record dated Jan. 4, 2009, GI No. 155369258).

As used herein, “target sequence” of a dsRNA refers to a contiguous portion of the nucleotide sequence of an mRNA molecule formed during the transcription of the target gene, e.g., a deltaEGFR gene or an IL-6 gene, including mRNA that is a product of RNA processing of a primary transcription product.

As used herein, the term “strand comprising a sequence” refers to an oligonucleotide comprising a chain of nucleotides that is described by the sequence referred to using the standard nucleotide nomenclature.

As used herein, and unless otherwise indicated, the term “complementary,” when used to describe a first nucleotide sequence in relation to a second nucleotide sequence, refers to the ability of an oligonucleotide or polynucleotide comprising the first nucleotide sequence to hybridize and form a duplex structure under certain conditions with an oligonucleotide or polynucleotide comprising the second nucleotide sequence, as will be understood by the skilled person. Such conditions can, for example, be stringent conditions, where stringent conditions may include: 400 mM NaCl, 40 mM PIPES pH 6.4, 1 mM EDTA, 50° C. or 70° C. for 12-16 hours followed by washing. Other conditions, such as physiologically relevant conditions as may be encountered inside an organism, can apply. The skilled person will be able to determine the set of conditions most appropriate for a test of complementarity of two sequences in accordance with the ultimate application of the hybridized nucleotides.

This includes base-pairing of the oligonucleotide or polynucleotide comprising the first nucleotide sequence to the oligonucleotide or polynucleotide comprising the second nucleotide sequence over the entire length of the first and second nucleotide sequence. Such sequences can be referred to as “fully complementary” with respect to each other herein. However, where a first sequence is referred to as “substantially complementary” with respect to a second sequence herein, the two sequences can be fully complementary, or they may form one or more, but generally not more than 4, 3 or 2 mismatched base pairs upon hybridization, while retaining the ability to hybridize under the conditions most relevant to their ultimate application. However, where two oligonucleotides are designed to form, upon hybridization, one or more single stranded overhangs, such overhangs shall not be regarded as mismatches with regard to the determination of complementarity. For example, a dsRNA comprising one oligonucleotide 21 nucleotides in length and another oligonucleotide 23 nucleotides in length, wherein the longer oligonucleotide comprises a sequence of 21 nucleotides that is fully complementary to the shorter oligonucleotide, may yet be referred to as “fully complementary” for the purposes described herein.

“Complementary” sequences, as used herein, may also include, or be formed entirely from, non-Watson-Crick base pairs and/or base pairs formed from non-natural and modified nucleotides, insofar as the above requirements with respect to their ability to hybridize are fulfilled. Such non-Watson-Crick base pairs includes, but not limited to, G:U Wobble or Hoogstein base pairing.

The terms “complementary,” “fully complementary” and “substantially complementary” herein may be used with respect to the base matching between the sense strand and the antisense strand of a dsRNA, or between the antisense strand of a dsRNA and a target sequence, as will be understood from the context of their use.

As used herein, a polynucleotide that is “substantially complementary to at least part of” a messenger RNA (mRNA) refers to a polynucleotide that is substantially complementary to a contiguous portion of an mRNA of interest (e.g., encoding deltaEGFR or IL6). For example, a polynucleotide is complementary to at least a part of a deltaEGFR mRNA if the sequence is substantially complementary to a non-interrupted portion of an mRNA encoding deltaEGFR. Similarly, a polynucleotide is complementary to at least a part of a wtEGFR mRNA if the sequence is substantially complementary to a non-interrupted portion of an mRNA encoding wtEGFR.

The term “double-stranded RNA” or “dsRNA,” as used herein, refers to a complex of ribonucleic acid molecules, having a duplex structure comprising two anti-parallel and substantially complementary, as defined above, nucleic acid strands. The two strands forming the duplex structure may be different portions of one larger RNA molecule, or they may be separate RNA molecules. Where the two strands are part of one larger molecule, and therefore are connected by an uninterrupted chain of nucleotides between the 3′-end of one strand and the 5′ end of the respective other strand forming the duplex structure, the connecting RNA chain is referred to as a “hairpin loop.” Where the two strands are connected covalently by means other than an uninterrupted chain of nucleotides between the 3′-end of one strand and the 5′ end of the respective other strand forming the duplex structure, the connecting structure is referred to as a “linker.” The RNA strands may have the same or a different number of nucleotides. The maximum number of base pairs is the number of nucleotides in the shortest strand of the dsRNA minus any overhangs that are present in the duplex. In addition to the duplex structure, a dsRNA may comprise one or more nucleotide overhangs.

As used herein, a “nucleotide overhang” refers to the unpaired nucleotide or nucleotides that protrude from the duplex structure of a dsRNA when a 3′-end of one strand of the dsRNA extends beyond the 5′-end of the other strand, or vice versa. “Blunt” or “blunt end” means that there are no unpaired nucleotides at that end of the dsRNA, i.e., no nucleotide overhang. A “blunt ended” dsRNA is a dsRNA that is double-stranded over its entire length, i.e., no nucleotide overhang at either end of the molecule.

The term “antisense strand” refers to the strand of a dsRNA which includes a region that is substantially complementary to a target sequence. As used herein, the term “region of complementarity” refers to the region on the antisense strand that is substantially complementary to a sequence, for example a target sequence, as defined herein. Where the region of complementarity is not fully complementary to the target sequence, the mismatches may be in the internal or terminal regions of the molecule. Generally, the most tolerated mismatches are in the terminal regions, e.g., within 6, 5, 4, 3, or 2 nucleotides of the 5′ and/or 3′ terminus.

The term “sense strand,” as used herein, refers to the strand of a dsRNA that includes a region that is substantially complementary to a region of the antisense strand.

The term “identity” is the relationship between two or more polynucleotide sequences, as determined by comparing the sequences. Identity also means the degree of sequence relatedness between polynucleotide sequences, as determined by the match between strings of such sequences. While there exist a number of methods to measure identity between two polynucleotide sequences, the term is well known to skilled artisans (see, e.g., Sequence Analysis in Molecular Biology, von Heinje, G., Academic Press (1987); and Sequence Analysis Primer, Gribskov., M. and Devereux, J., eds., M. Stockton Press, New York (1991)). “Substantially identical,” as used herein, means there is a very high degree of homology (e.g., 100% sequence identity) between the sense strand of the dsRNA and the corresponding part of the target gene. However, dsRNA having greater than 90%, or 95% sequence identity may be used in the present invention, and thus sequence variations that might be expected due to genetic mutation, strain polymorphism, or evolutionary divergence can be tolerated. The dsRNA is typically 100% complementary to the target RNA, but in some embodiments, the dsRNA may contain single or multiple base-pair random mismatches between the RNA and the target gene.

As used herein, the term “SNALP” refers to a stable nucleic acid-lipid particle. A SNALP represents a vesicle of lipids coating a reduced aqueous interior comprising a nucleic acid such as an iRNA agent or a plasmid from which an iRNA agent is transcribed. SNALPs are described, e.g., in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 20060240093, 20070135372, and U.S. Ser. No. 61/045,228 filed Apr. 15, 2008. These applications are hereby incorporated by reference.

“Introducing into a cell,” when referring to a dsRNA, means facilitating uptake or absorption into the cell, as is understood by those skilled in the art. Absorption or uptake of dsRNA can occur through unaided diffusive or active cellular processes, or by auxiliary agents or devices. The meaning of this term is not limited to cells in vitro; a dsRNA may also be “introduced into a cell,” wherein the cell is part of a living organism. In such instance, introduction into the cell will include the delivery to the organism. For example, for in vivo delivery, dsRNA can be injected into a tissue site or administered systemically. In vivo delivery can also be by a beta-glucan delivery system, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,032,401 and 5,607,677, and U.S. Publication No. 2005/0281781. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,032,401 and 5,607,677, and U.S. Publication No. 2005/0281781 are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. In vitro introduction into a cell includes methods known in the art such as electroporation and lipofection.

The terms “silence,” “inhibit the expression of,” “down-regulate the expression of,” “suppress the expression of,” and the like, insofar as they refer to a deltaEGFR or IL6 gene, refer to the at least partial suppression of expression of the deltaEGFR or IL6 gene, as manifested by a reduction of the amount of deltaEGFR or IL6 mRNA which may be isolated or detected from a first cell or group of cells in which the deltaEGFR or IL6 gene is transcribed and which has or have been treated such that the expression of the deltaEGFR or IL6 gene is inhibited, as compared to a second cell or group of cells substantially identical to the first cell or group of cells but which has or have not been so treated (control cells). The degree of inhibition is usually expressed in terms of

${\frac{\left( {{mRNA}\mspace{14mu} {in}\mspace{14mu} {control}\mspace{14mu} {cells}} \right) - \left( {{mRNA}\mspace{14mu} {in}\mspace{14mu} {treated}\mspace{14mu} {cells}} \right)}{\left( {{mRNA}\mspace{14mu} {in}\mspace{14mu} {control}\mspace{14mu} {cells}} \right)} \cdot 100}\%$

Alternatively, the degree of inhibition may be given in terms of a reduction of a parameter that is functionally linked to gene expression, e.g., the amount of protein encoded by the deltaEGFR or IL6 gene which is secreted by a cell, or the number of cells displaying a certain phenotype, e.g., apoptosis. In principle, gene silencing may be determined in any cell expressing the target gene, either constitutively or by genomic engineering, and by any appropriate assay. However, when a reference is needed in order to determine whether a given dsRNA inhibits the expression of a deltaEGFR gene or an IL6 gene by a certain degree and therefore is encompassed by the instant invention, the assays provided in the Examples below shall serve as such reference. For example, deltaEGFR gene silencing may be determined in U87-deltaEGFR (Nishikawa et al., PNAS 91:7727-7731, 1994) or U87-wtEGFR (Nagana et al., Cancer Research 56:5079-5086, 1996) cells.

In some embodiments, expression of the deltaEGFR gene or IL6 gene is suppressed by at least about 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, or 50% by administration of a double-stranded oligonucleotide featured in the invention. In some embodiments, the deltaEGFR or IL6 gene is suppressed by at least about 60%, 70%, or 80% by administration of the double-stranded oligonucleotide featured in the invention. In some embodiments, the deltaEGFR gene is suppressed by at least about 85%, 90%, or 95% by administration of the double-stranded oligonucleotide featured in the invention. Table 4, for example, and FIGS. 7-9 indicate a range of inhibition of expression obtained in in vitro and ex vivo assays using various deltaEGFR dsRNA molecules at various concentrations.

As used herein in the context of deltaEGFR or IL6 expression, the terms “treat,” “treatment,” and the like, refer to relief from or alleviation of pathological processes mediated by deltaEGFR or IL6 gene expression. Insofar as they relate to any of the other conditions recited herein below (other than pathological processes mediated by deltaEGFR expression), the terms “treat,” “treatment,” and the like mean to relieve or alleviate at least one symptom associated with such condition, or to slow or reverse the progression of such condition, such as the slowing and progression of glioma.

As used herein, the phrases “therapeutically effective amount” and “prophylactically effective amount” refer to an amount that provides a therapeutic benefit in the treatment, prevention, or management of pathological processes mediated by deltaEGFR or IL6 expression or an overt symptom of pathological processes mediated by deltaEGFR or IL6 expression. The specific amount that is therapeutically effective can be readily determined by an ordinary medical practitioner, and may vary depending on factors known in the art, such as, for example, the type of pathological processes mediated by deltaEGFR or IL6 expression, the patient's history and age, the stage of pathological processes mediated by deltaEGFR or IL6 expression, and the administration of other anti-pathological processes mediated by deltaEGFR or IL6 expression agents.

As used herein, a “pharmaceutical composition” comprises a pharmacologically effective amount of a dsRNA and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. As used herein, “pharmacologically effective amount,” “therapeutically effective amount” or simply “effective amount” refers to that amount of an RNA effective to produce the intended pharmacological, therapeutic or preventive result. For example, if a given clinical treatment is considered effective when there is at least a 25% reduction in a measurable parameter associated with a disease or disorder, a therapeutically effective amount of a drug for the treatment of that disease or disorder is the amount necessary to effect at least a 25% reduction in that parameter.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” refers to a carrier for administration of a therapeutic agent. Such carriers include, but are not limited to, saline, buffered saline, dextrose, water, glycerol, ethanol, and combinations thereof. The term specifically excludes cell culture medium. For drugs administered orally, pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include, but are not limited to pharmaceutically acceptable excipients such as inert diluents, disintegrating agents, binding agents, lubricating agents, sweetening agents, flavoring agents, coloring agents and preservatives. Suitable inert diluents include sodium and calcium carbonate, sodium and calcium phosphate, and lactose, while corn starch and alginic acid are suitable disintegrating agents. Binding agents may include starch and gelatin, while the lubricating agent, if present, will generally be magnesium stearate, stearic acid or talc. If desired, the tablets may be coated with a material such as glyceryl monostearate or glyceryl distearate, to delay absorption in the gastrointestinal tract.

As used herein, a “transformed cell” is a cell into which a vector has been introduced from which a dsRNA molecule may be expressed.

II. DOUBLE-STRANDED RIBONUCLEIC ACID (dsRNA)

In one embodiment, the invention provides double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) molecule for inhibiting expression of a deltaEGFR gene in a cell or mammal, e.g., in a human having a cancer, such as a glioma, where the dsRNA includes an antisense strand having a region of complementarity which is complementary to at least a part of an mRNA formed in the expression of the deltaEGFR gene, and where the region of complementarity is less than 30 nucleotides in length, generally 19-24 nucleotides in length, and where said dsRNA, upon contact with a cell expressing said deltaEGFR gene, inhibits the expression of said deltaEGFR gene by at least 30% as assayed by, for example, a PCR or branched DNA (bDNA)-based method, or by a protein-based method, such as by Western blot. Expression of the deltaEGFR gene can be reduced by at least 30% when measured by an assay as described in the Examples below. The expression of wtEGFR may also be reduced by at least 30%, e.g., as assayed by a method described herein, and the level of reduced expression of deltaEGFR and wtEGFR may be different. The reduction in deltaEGFR or wtEGFR expression can also be assayed by measuring protein levels, such as by Western blot analysis.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) molecule for inhibiting expression of an IL6 gene in a cell or mammal, e.g., in a human having a cancer, such as a glioma, where the dsRNA includes an antisense strand having a region of complementarity which is complementary to at least a part of an mRNA formed in the expression of the IL6 gene, and where the region of complementarity is less than 30 nucleotides in length, generally 19-24 nucleotides in length, and where the dsRNA, upon contact with a cell expressing the IL6 gene, inhibits the expression of the gene by at least 30% as assayed by, for example, a PCR or branched DNA (bDNA)-based method, or by a protein-based method, such as by Western blot.

A dsRNA featured in the invention, e.g., a dsRNA targeting deltaEGFR or IL6 mRNA, includes two RNA strands that are sufficiently complementary to hybridize to form a duplex structure. One strand of the dsRNA (the antisense strand) includes a region of complementarity that is substantially complementary, and generally fully complementary, to a target sequence, derived from the sequence of an mRNA formed during the expression of the target gene, the other strand (the sense strand) includes a region that is complementary to the antisense strand, such that the two strands hybridize and form a duplex structure when combined under suitable conditions. Optionally, the region of the antisense strand that is substantially complementary to a sequence of a deltaEGFR mRNA is also substantially complementary to a wtEGFR mRNA.

Generally, the duplex structure of a dsRNA featured herein is between 15 and 30, more generally between 18 and 25, yet more generally between 19 and 24, and most generally between 19 and 21 base pairs in length. Similarly, the region of complementarity to the target sequence is between 15 and 30, more generally between 18 and 25, yet more generally between 19 and 24, and most generally between 19 and 21 nucleotides in length. In some embodiments, the dsRNA is between 10 and 15 nucleotides in length, and in other embodiments, the dsRNA is between 25 and 30 nucleotides in length. The dsRNA featured in the invention may further include one or more single-stranded nucleotide overhangs. The dsRNA can be synthesized by standard methods known in the art as further discussed below, e.g., by use of an automated DNA synthesizer, such as are commercially available from, for example, Biosearch, Applied Biosystems, Inc. In one embodiment, the deltaEGFR gene is a human deltaEGFR gene, and the wtEGFR gene is a human wtEGFR gene. In specific embodiments, the first sequence is a sense strand of the dsRNA that includes a sense sequence from Tables 2 or 3, and the second sequence is an antisense strand that includes an antisense sequence from Tables 2 or 3. Alternative antisense agents that target elsewhere in the target sequence provided in Tables 2 or 3 can readily be determined using the target sequence and the flanking deltaEGFR sequence.

The dsRNA targeting deltaEGFR will include at least two nucleotide sequences selected from the groups of sequences provided in Tables 2 or 3. One of the two sequences is complementary to the other of the two sequences, with one of the sequences being substantially complementary to a sequence of an mRNA generated in the expression of the deltaEGFR gene. As such, the dsRNA will include two oligonucleotides, where one oligonucleotide is described as the sense strand in Tables 2 or 3 and the second oligonucleotide is described as the antisense strand in Tables 2 or 3.

In some embodiments, the dsRNA will target an IL-6 gene, e.g., a human IL-6 gene. In certain embodiments, the first sequence of the dsRNA is a sense strand that includes a sense sequence from Tables 5-8, and the second sequence is an antisense strand that includes an antisense sequence from Tables 5-8. Alternative antisense agents that target elsewhere in the target sequence provided in Tables 5-8 can readily be determined using the target sequence and the flanking IL-6 sequence.

A dsRNA targeting IL-6 will include at least two nucleotide sequences selected from the groups of sequences provided in Tables 5-8. One of the two sequences is complementary to the other of the two sequences, with one of the sequences being substantially complementary to a sequence of an mRNA generated in the expression of the IL-6 gene. As such, the dsRNA will include two oligonucleotides, where one oligonucleotide is described as the sense strand in Tables 6-10 and the second oligonucleotide is described as the antisense strand in Tables 6-10.

In certain embodiments, the IL-6 dsRNA does not have a sense or antisense strand consisting of the sequences shown in Tables 6A or 6B of WO 2007/064846. In other embodiments, the dsRNA does not consist of the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 of US2008/0234218, and its complementary sequence of SEQ NO:2; the sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 of US2008/0234218, and its complementary sequence of SEQ NO:4; or the sequence of SEQ ID NO:5 of US2008/0234218, and its complementary sequence of SEQ NO:6.

The skilled person is well aware that dsRNAs having a duplex structure of between 20 and 23, but specifically 21, base pairs have been hailed as particularly effective in inducing RNA interference (Elbashir et al., EMBO 2001, 20:6877-6888). However, others have found that shorter or longer dsRNAs can be effective as well. In the embodiments described above, by virtue of the nature of the oligonucleotide sequences provided in Tables 2 and 3, and 5-8, the dsRNAs featured in the invention can include at least one strand of a length of minimally 21 nt. It can be reasonably expected that shorter dsRNAs having one of the sequences of Tables 2 or 3, or 5-8 minus only a few nucleotides on one or both ends may be similarly effective as compared to the dsRNAs described above. Hence, dsRNAs having a partial sequence of at least 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, or more contiguous nucleotides from one of the sequences of Tables 2, 3 and 5-8, and differing in their ability to inhibit the expression of the respective target genes, e.g., as measured by a FACS assay as described herein below by not more than 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30% inhibition from a dsRNA comprising the full sequence, are contemplated by the invention. Further, dsRNAs that cleave within the desired target sequence can readily be made using the corresponding deltaEGFR or IL6 antisense sequence and a complementary sense sequence.

In addition, the dsRNAs provided in Tables 2 and 3 identify a site in a deltaEGFR mRNA and the wtEGFR sequence that is susceptible to RNAi based cleavage, and the dsRNAs provided in Tables 5-8 identify a site in an IL6 mRNA susceptible to RNAi based cleavage As such, the present invention further provides dsRNAs that target within the sequence targeted by one of the other agents featured in the invention. As used herein, a second dsRNA is said to target within the sequence of a first dsRNA if the second dsRNA cleaves the message anywhere within the mRNA that is complementary to the antisense strand of the first dsRNA. Such a second dsRNA will generally consist of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides from one of the sequences provided in Tables 2, 3 or 5-8, coupled to an additional nucleotide sequence taken from the region contiguous to the selected sequence in the target gene, e.g., the deltaEGFR gene, the wtEGFR gene, or the IL6 gene. For example, the last 15 nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:2 combined with the next six nucleotides from the target deltaEGFR gene produces a single strand agent of 21 nucleotides that is based on one of the sequences provided in Tables 2 and 3.

The dsRNA featured in the invention can contain one or more mismatches to the target sequence. In one embodiment, the dsRNA contains no more than 3 mismatches. If the antisense strand of the dsRNA contains mismatches to a target sequence, it is preferable that the area of mismatch not be located in the center of the region of complementarity. If the antisense strand of the dsRNA contains mismatches to the target sequence, it is preferable that the mismatch be restricted to 5 nucleotides from either end, for example 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1 nucleotide from either the 5′ or 3′ end of the region of complementarity. For example, for a 23 nucleotide dsRNA strand which is complementary to a region of the deltaEGFR gene, the dsRNA generally does not contain any mismatch within the central 13 nucleotides. The methods described within the invention can be used to determine whether a dsRNA containing a mismatch to a target sequence is effective in inhibiting the expression of the target gene, e.g., a deltaEGFR gene or an IL6 gene. Consideration of the efficacy of dsRNAs with mismatches in inhibiting expression of the target gene is important, especially if the particular region of complementarity in the target gene is known to have polymorphic sequence variation within the population.

In one embodiment, at least one end of the dsRNA has a single-stranded nucleotide overhang of 1 to 4, generally 1 or 2 nucleotides. dsRNAs having at least one nucleotide overhang have unexpectedly superior inhibitory properties than their blunt-ended counterparts. Moreover, the present inventors have discovered that the presence of only one nucleotide overhang strengthens the interference activity of the dsRNA, without affecting its overall stability. dsRNA having only one overhang has proven particularly stable and effective in vivo, as well as in a variety of cells, cell culture mediums, blood, and serum. Generally, the single-stranded overhang is located at the 3′-terminal end of the antisense strand or, alternatively, at the 3′-terminal end of the sense strand. The dsRNA may also have a blunt end, generally located at the 5′-end of the antisense strand. Such dsRNAs have improved stability and inhibitory activity, thus allowing administration at low dosages, i.e., less than 5 mg/kg body weight of the recipient per day. In one embodiment, the antisense strand of the dsRNA has a 1-10 nucleotide overhang at the 3′-end and/or the 5′ end. In another embodiment, the sense strand of the dsRNA has a 1-10 nucleotide overhang at the 3′ end and/or the 5′ end. In another embodiment, one or more of the nucleotides in the overhang is replaced with a nucleoside thiophosphate.

In yet another embodiment, the dsRNA is chemically modified to enhance stability. The nucleic acids featured in the invention may be synthesized and/or modified by methods well established in the art, such as those described in “Current protocols in nucleic acid chemistry,” Beaucage, S. L. et al. (Edrs.), John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, N.Y., USA, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Specific examples of dsRNA compounds useful in this invention include dsRNAs containing modified backbones or no natural internucleoside linkages. As defined in this specification, dsRNAs having modified backbones include those that retain a phosphorus atom in the backbone and those that do not have a phosphorus atom in the backbone. For the purposes of this specification, and as sometimes referenced in the art, modified dsRNAs that do not have a phosphorus atom in their internucleoside backbone can also be considered to be oligonucleosides.

Modified dsRNA backbones include, for example, phosphorothioates, chiral phosphorothioates, phosphorodithioates, phosphotriesters, aminoalkylphosphotriesters, methyl and other alkyl phosphonates including 3′-alkylene phosphonates and chiral phosphonates, phosphinates, phosphoramidates including 3′-amino phosphoramidate and aminoalkylphosphoramidates, thionophosphoramidates, thionoalkylphosphonates, thionoalkylphosphotriesters, and boranophosphates having normal 3′-5′ linkages, 2′-5′ linked analogs of these, and those) having inverted polarity wherein the adjacent pairs of nucleoside units are linked 3′-5′ to 5′-3′ or 2′-5′ to 5′-2′. Various salts, mixed salts and free acid forms are also included.

Representative U.S. patents that teach the preparation of the above phosphorus-containing linkages include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,687,808; 4,469,863; 4,476,301; 5,023,243; 5,177,195; 5,188,897; 5,264,423; 5,276,019; 5,278,302; 5,286,717; 5,321,131; 5,399,676; 5,405,939; 5,453,496; 5,455,233; 5,466,677; 5,476,925; 5,519,126; 5,536,821; 5,541,316; 5,550,111; 5,563,253; 5,571,799; 5,587,361; and 5,625,050, each of which is incorporated herein by reference

Modified dsRNA backbones that do not include a phosphorus atom have backbones that are formed by short chain alkyl or cycloalkyl internucleoside linkages, mixed heteroatoms and alkyl or cycloalkyl internucleoside linkages, or ore or more short chain heteroatomic or heterocyclic internucleoside linkages. These include those having morpholino linkages (formed in part from the sugar portion of a nucleoside); siloxane backbones; sulfide, sulfoxide and sulfone backbones; formacetyl and thioformacetyl backbones; methylene formacetyl and thioformacetyl backbones; alkene containing backbones; sulfamate backbones; methyleneimino and methylenehydrazino backbones; sulfonate and sulfonamide backbones; amide backbones; and others having mixed N, O, S and CH₂ component parts.

Representative U.S. patents that teach the preparation of the above oligonucleosides include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,034,506; 5,166,315; 5,185,444; 5,214,134; 5,216,141; 5,235,033; 5,64,562; 5,264,564; 5,405,938; 5,434,257; 5,466,677; 5,470,967; 5,489,677; 5,541,307; 5,561,225; 5,596,086; 5,602,240; 5,608,046; 5,610,289; 5,618,704; 5,623,070; 5,663,312; 5,633,360; 5,677,437; and, 5,677,439, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

In other suitable dsRNA mimetics, both the sugar and the internucleoside linkage, i.e., the backbone, of the nucleotide units are replaced with novel groups. The base units are maintained for hybridization with an appropriate nucleic acid target compound. One such oligomeric compound, a dsRNA mimetic that has been shown to have excellent hybridization properties, is referred to as a peptide nucleic acid (PNA). In PNA compounds, the sugar backbone of a dsRNA is replaced with an amide containing backbone, in particular an aminoethylglycine backbone. The nucleobases are retained and are bound directly or indirectly to aza nitrogen atoms of the amide portion of the backbone. Representative U.S. patents that teach the preparation of PNA compounds include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,539,082; 5,714,331; and 5,719,262, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Further teaching of PNA compounds can be found in Nielsen et al., Science, 1991, 254, 1497-1500.

Most embodiments featured in the invention include dsRNAs with phosphorothioate backbones and oligonucleosides with heteroatom backbones, and in particular —CH₂—NH—CH₂—, —CH₂—N(CH₃)—O—CH₂— [known as a methylene (methylimino) or MMI backbone], —CH₂—O—N(CH₃)—CH₂—, —CH₂—N(CH₃)—N(CH₃)—CH₂— and —N(CH₃)—CH₂—CH₂— [wherein the native phosphodiester backbone is represented as —O—P—O—CH₂—] of the above-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,677, and the amide backbones of the above-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,602,240. In some embodiments, the dsRNAs featured herein have morpholino backbone structures of the above-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,506.

Modified dsRNAs may also contain one or more substituted sugar moieties. The dsRNAs featured herein can have one of the following at the 2′ position: OH; F; O-, S-, or N-alkyl; O-, S-, or N-alkenyl; O-, S- or N-alkynyl; or O-alkyl-O-alkyl, wherein the alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl may be substituted or unsubstituted C₁ to C₁₀ alkyl or C₂ to C₁₀ alkenyl and alkynyl. Exemplary suitable modifications include O[(CH₂)_(n)O]_(m)CH₃, O(CH₂)_(n)OCH₃, O(CH₂)_(n)NH₂, O(CH₂)_(n)CH₃, O(CH₂)_(n)ONH₂, and O(CH₂)_(n)ON[(CH₂)_(n)CH₃)]₂, where n and m are from 1 to about 10. In other embodiments, dsRNAs include one of the following at the 2′ position: C₁ to C₁₀ lower alkyl, substituted lower alkyl, alkaryl, aralkyl, O-alkaryl or O-aralkyl, SH, SCH₃, OCN, Cl, Br, CN, CF₃, OCF₃, SOCH₃, SO₂CH₃, ONO₂, NO₂, N₃, NH₂, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkaryl, aminoalkylamino, polyalkylamino, substituted silyl, an RNA cleaving group, a reporter group, an intercalator, a group for improving the pharmacokinetic properties of a dsRNA, or a group for improving the pharmacodynamic properties of a dsRNA, and other substituents having similar properties. In some embodiments, the modification includes a 2′-methoxyethoxy (2′-O—CH₂CH₂OCH₃, also known as 2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl) or 2′-MOE) (Martin et al., Helv. Chim. Acta, 1995, 78:486-504) i.e., an alkoxy-alkoxy group. Another exemplary modification is 2′-dimethylaminooxyethoxy, i.e., a O(CH₂)₂ON(CH₃)₂ group, also known as 2′-DMAOE, as described in examples hereinbelow, and 2′-dimethylaminoethoxyethoxy (also known in the art as 2′-O-dimethylaminoethoxyethyl or 2′-DMAEOE), i.e., 2′-O—CH₂—O—CH₂—N(CH₂)₂, also described in examples hereinbelow.

Other modifications include 2′-methoxy (2′-OCH₃), 2′-aminopropoxy (2′-OCH₂CH₂CH₂NH₂) and 2′-fluoro (2′-F). Similar modifications may also be made at other positions on the dsRNA, particularly the 3′ position of the sugar on the 3′ terminal nucleotide or in 2′-5′ linked dsRNAs and the 5′ position of 5′ terminal nucleotide. DsRNAs may also have sugar mimetics such as cyclobutyl moieties in place of the pentofuranosyl sugar. Representative U.S. patents that teach the preparation of such modified sugar structures include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,981,957; 5,118,800; 5,319,080; 5,359,044; 5,393,878; 5,446,137; 5,466,786; 5,514,785; 5,519,134; 5,567,811; 5,576,427; 5,591,722; 5,597,909; 5,610,300; 5,627,053; 5,639,873; 5,646,265; 5,658,873; 5,670,633; and 5,700,920, certain of which are commonly owned with the instant application, and each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

DsRNAs may also include nucleobase (often referred to in the art simply as “base”) modifications or substitutions. As used herein, “unmodified” or “natural” nucleobases include the purine bases adenine (A) and guanine (G), and the pyrimidine bases thymine (T), cytosine (C) and uracil (U). Modified nucleobases include other synthetic and natural nucleobases such as 5-methylcytosine (5-me-C), 5-hydroxymethyl cytosine, xanthine, hypoxanthine, 2-aminoadenine, 6-methyl and other alkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, 2-propyl and other alkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, 2-thiouracil, 2-thiothymine and 2-thiocytosine, 5-halouracil and cytosine, 5-propynyl uracil and cytosine, 6-azo uracil, cytosine and thymine, 5-uracil (pseudouracil), 4-thiouracil, 8-halo, 8-amino, 8-thiol, 8-thioalkyl, 8-hydroxyl anal other 8-substituted adenines and guanines, 5-halo, particularly 5-bromo, 5-trifluoromethyl and other 5-substituted uracils and cytosines, 7-methylguanine and 7-methyladenine, 8-azaguanine and 8-azaadenine, 7-deazaguanine and 7-deazaadenine and 3-deazaguanine and 3-deazaadenine. Further nucleobases include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,687,808, those disclosed in The Concise Encyclopedia Of Polymer Science And Engineering, pages 858-859, Kroschwitz, J. L, ed. John Wiley & Sons, 1990, these disclosed by Englisch et al., Angewandte Chemie, International Edition, 1991, 30, 613, and those disclosed by Sanghvi, Y S., Chapter 15, DsRNA Research and Applications, pages 289-302, Crooke, S. T. and Lebleu, B., Ed., CRC Press, 1993. Certain of these nucleobases are particularly useful for increasing the binding affinity of the oligomeric compounds featured in the invention. These include 5-substituted pyrimidines, 6-azapyrimidines and N-2, N-6 and 0-6 substituted purines, including 2-aminopropyladenine, 5-propynyluracil and 5-propynylcytosine. 5-methylcytosine substitutions have been shown to increase nucleic acid duplex stability by 0.6-1.2° C. (Sanghvi, Y. S., Crooke, S. T. and Lebleu, B., Eds., DsRNA Research and Applications, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1993, pp. 276-278) and are exemplary base substitutions, even more particularly when combined with 2′-O-methoxyethyl sugar modifications.

Representative U.S. patents that teach the preparation of certain of the above noted modified nucleobases as well as other modified nucleobases include, but are not limited to, the above noted U.S. Pat. No. 3,687,808, as well as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,845,205; 5,130,30; 5,134,066; 5,175,273; 5,367,066; 5,432,272; 5,457,187; 5,459,255; 5,484,908; 5,502,177; 5,525,711; 5,552,540; 5,587,469; 5,594,121, 5,596,091; 5,614,617; and 5,681,941, each of which is herein incorporated by reference, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,692, also incorporated herein by reference.

Another modification of the dsRNAs featured in the invention involves chemically linking to the dsRNA one or more moieties or conjugates which enhance the activity, cellular distribution or cellular uptake of the dsRNA. Such moieties include but are not limited to lipid moieties such as a cholesterol moiety (Letsinger et al., Proc. Natl. Acid. Sci. USA, 1989, 86: 6553-6556), cholic acid (Manoharan et al., Biorg. Med. Chem. Let., 1994, 4:1053-1060), a thioether, e.g., beryl-5-tritylthiol (Manoharan et al., Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 1992, 660:306-309; Manoharan et al., Biorg. Med. Chem. Let., 1993, 3:2765-2770), a thiocholesterol (Oberhauser et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 1992, 20:533-538), an aliphatic chain, e.g., dodecandiol or undecyl residues (Saison-Behmoaras et al., EMBO J, 1991, 10:1111-1118; Kabanov et al., FEBS Lett., 1990, 259:327-330; Svinarchuk et al., Biochimie, 1993, 75:49-54), a phospholipid, e.g., di-hexadecyl-rac-glycerol or triethyl-ammonium 1,2-di-O-hexadecyl-rac-glycero-3-Hphosphonate (Manoharan et al., Tetrahedron Lett., 1995, 36:3651-3654; Shea et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 1990, 18:3777-3783), a polyamine or a polyethylene glycol chain (Manoharan et al., Nucleosides & Nucleotides, 1995, 14:969-973), or adamantane acetic acid (Manoharan et al., Tetrahedron Lett., 1995, 36:3651-3654), a palmityl moiety (Mishra et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1995, 1264:229-237), or an octadecylamine or hexylamino-carbonyloxycholesterol moiety (Crooke et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 1996, 277:923-937).

Representative U.S. patents that teach the preparation of such dsRNA conjugates include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,828,979; 4,948,882; 5,218,105; 5,525,465; 5,541,313; 5,545,730; 5,552,538; 5,578,717, 5,580,731; 5,591,584; 5,109,124; 5,118,802; 5,138,045; 5,414,077; 5,486,603; 5,512,439; 5,578,718; 5,608,046; 4,587,044; 4,605,735; 4,667,025; 4,762,779; 4,789,737; 4,824,941; 4,835,263; 4,876,335; 4,904,582; 4,958,013; 5,082,830; 5,112,963; 5,214,136; 5,082,830; 5,112,963; 5,214,136; 5,245,022; 5,254,469; 5,258,506; 5,262,536; 5,272,250; 5,292,873; 5,317,098; 5,371,241, 5,391,723; 5,416,203, 5,451,463; 5,510,475; 5,512,667; 5,514,785; 5,565,552; 5,567,810; 5,574,142; 5,585,481; 5,587,371; 5,595,726; 5,597,696; 5,599,923; 5,599,928 and 5,688,941, each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

It is not necessary for all positions in a given compound to be uniformly modified, and in fact more than one of the aforementioned modifications may be incorporated in a single compound or even at a single nucleoside within a dsRNA. The present invention also includes dsRNA compounds which are chimeric compounds. “Chimeric” dsRNA compounds or “chimeras,” in the context of this invention, are dsRNA compounds, particularly dsRNAs, which contain two or more chemically distinct regions, each made up of at least one monomer unit, i.e., a nucleotide in the case of a dsRNA compound. These dsRNAs typically contain at least one region wherein the dsRNA is modified so as to confer upon the dsRNA increased resistance to nuclease degradation, increased cellular uptake, and/or increased binding affinity for the target nucleic acid. An additional region of the dsRNA may serve as a substrate for enzymes capable of cleaving RNA:DNA or RNA:RNA hybrids. By way of example, RNase H is a cellular endonuclease which cleaves the RNA strand of an RNA:DNA duplex. Activation of RNase H, therefore, results in cleavage of the RNA target, thereby greatly enhancing the efficiency of dsRNA inhibition of gene expression. Consequently, comparable results can often be obtained with shorter dsRNAs when chimeric dsRNAs are used, compared to phosphorothioate deoxydsRNAs hybridizing to the same target region. Cleavage of the RNA target can be routinely detected by gel electrophoresis and, if necessary, associated nucleic acid hybridization techniques known in the art.

In certain instances, the dsRNA may be modified by a non-ligand group. A number of non-ligand molecules have been conjugated to dsRNAs in order to enhance the activity, cellular distribution or cellular uptake of the dsRNA, and procedures for performing such conjugations are available in the scientific literature. Such non-ligand moieties have included lipid moieties, such as cholesterol (Letsinger et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1989, 86:6553), cholic acid (Manoharan et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 1994, 4:1053), a thioether, e.g., hexyl-5-tritylthiol (Manoharan et al., Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 1992, 660:306; Manoharan et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Let., 1993, 3:2765), a thiocholesterol (Oberhauser et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 1992, 20:533), an aliphatic chain, e.g., dodecandiol or undecyl residues (Saison-Behmoaras et al., EMBO J., 1991, 10:111; Kabanov et al., FEBS Lett., 1990, 259:327; Svinarchuk et al., Biochimie, 1993, 75:49), a phospholipid, e.g., di-hexadecyl-rac-glycerol or triethylammonium 1,2-di-O-hexadecyl-rac-glycero-3-H-phosphonate (Manoharan et al., Tetrahedron Lett., 1995, 36:3651; Shea et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 1990, 18:3777), a polyamine or a polyethylene glycol chain (Manoharan et al., Nucleosides & Nucleotides, 1995, 14:969), or adamantane acetic acid (Manoharan et al., Tetrahedron Lett., 1995, 36:3651), a palmityl moiety (Mishra et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1995, 1264:229), or an octadecylamine or hexylamino-carbonyl-oxycholesterol moiety (Crooke et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 1996, 277:923). Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of such dsRNA conjugates have been listed above. Typical conjugation protocols involve the synthesis of dsRNAs bearing an aminolinker at one or more positions of the sequence. The amino group is then reacted with the molecule being conjugated using appropriate coupling or activating reagents. The conjugation reaction may be performed either with the dsRNA still bound to the solid support or following cleavage of the dsRNA in solution phase. Purification of the dsRNA conjugate by HPLC typically affords the pure conjugate.

Vector Encoded dsRNAs

In another aspect, dsRNA molecules featured in the invention, e.g., deltaEGFR and IL6 dsRNAs, are expressed from transcription units inserted into DNA or RNA vectors (see, e.g., Couture, A, et al., TIG. (1996), 12:5-10; Skillern, A., et al., International PCT Publication No. WO 00/22113, Conrad, International PCT Publication No. WO 00/22114, and Conrad, U.S. Pat. No. 6,054,299). These transgenes can be introduced as a linear construct, a circular plasmid, or a viral vector, which can be incorporated and inherited as a transgene integrated into the host genome. The transgene can also be constructed to permit it to be inherited as an extrachromosomal plasmid (Gassmann, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1995) 92:1292).

The individual strands of a dsRNA can be transcribed by promoters on two separate expression vectors and co-transfected into a target cell. Alternatively each individual strand of the dsRNA can be transcribed by promoters both of which are located on the same expression plasmid. In one embodiment, a dsRNA is expressed as an inverted repeat joined by a linker polynucleotide sequence such that the dsRNA has a stem and loop structure.

The recombinant dsRNA expression vectors are generally DNA plasmids or viral vectors. dsRNA expressing viral vectors can be constructed based on, but not limited to, adeno-associated virus (for a review, see Muzyczka, et al., Curr. Topics Micro. Immunol. (1992) 158:97-129)); adenovirus (see, for example, Berkner, et al., BioTechniques (1998) 6:616), Rosenfeld et al. (1991, Science 252:431-434), and Rosenfeld et al. (1992), Cell 68:143-155)); or alphavirus as well as others known in the art. Retroviruses have been used to introduce a variety of genes into many different cell types, including epithelial cells, in vitro and/or in vivo (see, e.g., Eglitis, et al., Science (1985) 230:1395-1398; Danos and Mulligan, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1998) 85:6460-6464; Wilson et al., 1988, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:3014-3018; Armentano et al., 1990, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:61416145; Huber et al., 1991, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:8039-8043; Ferry et al., 1991, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:8377-8381; Chowdhury et al., 1991, Science 254:1802-1805; van Beusechem. et al., 1992, Proc. Nad. Acad. Sci. USA 89:7640-19; Kay et al., 1992, Human Gene Therapy 3:641-647; Dai et al., 1992, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:10892-10895; Hwu et al., 1993, J. Immunol. 150:4104-4115; U.S. Pat. No. 4,868,116; U.S. Pat. No. 4,980,286; PCT Application WO 89/07136; PCT Application WO 89/02468; PCT Application WO 89/05345; and PCT Application WO 92/07573). Recombinant retroviral vectors capable of transducing and expressing genes inserted into the genome of a cell can be produced by transfecting the recombinant retroviral genome into suitable packaging cell lines such as PA317 and Psi-CRIP (Cornette et al., 1991, Human Gene Therapy 2:5-10; Cone et al., 1984, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81:6349). Recombinant adenoviral vectors can be used to infect a wide variety of cells and tissues in susceptible hosts (e.g., rat, hamster, dog, and chimpanzee) (Hsu et al., 1992, J. Infectious Disease, 166:769), and also have the advantage of not requiring mitotically active cells for infection.

Any viral vector capable of accepting the coding sequences for the dsRNA molecule(s) to be expressed can be used, for example vectors derived from adenovirus (AV); adeno-associated virus (AAV); retroviruses (e.g, lentiviruses (LV), Rhabdoviruses, murine leukemia virus); herpes virus, and the like. The tropism of viral vectors can be modified by pseudotyping the vectors with envelope proteins or other surface antigens from other viruses, or by substituting different viral capsid proteins, as appropriate.

For example, lentiviral vectors featured in the invention can be pseudotyped with surface proteins from vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), rabies, Ebola, Mokola, and the like. AAV vectors featured in the invention can be made to target different cells by engineering the vectors to express different capsid protein serotypes. For example, an AAV vector expressing a serotype 2 capsid on a serotype 2 genome is called AAV 2/2. This serotype 2 capsid gene in the AAV 2/2 vector can be replaced by a serotype 5 capsid gene to produce an AAV 2/5 vector. Techniques for constructing AAV vectors which express different capsid protein serotypes are within the skill in the art; see, e.g., Rabinowitz J E et al. (2002), J Virol 76:791-801, the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.

Selection of recombinant viral vectors suitable for use in the invention, methods for inserting nucleic acid sequences for expressing the dsRNA into the vector, and methods of delivering the viral vector to the cells of interest are within the skill in the art. See, for example, Dornburg R (1995), Gene Therap. 2: 301-310; Eglitis M A (1988), Biotechniques 6: 608-614; Miller A D (1990), Hum Gene Therap. 1: 5-14; Anderson W F (1998), Nature 392: 25-30; and Rubinson D A et al., Nat. Genet. 33: 401-406, the entire disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference.

Viral vectors can be derived from AV and AAV. In one embodiment, the dsRNA featured in the invention is expressed as two separate, complementary single-stranded RNA molecules from a recombinant AAV vector having, for example, either the U6 or H1 RNA promoters, or the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter.

A suitable AV vector for expressing the dsRNA featured in the invention, a method for constructing the recombinant AV vector, and a method for delivering the vector into target cells, are described in Xia H et al. (2002), Nat. Biotech. 20: 1006-1010.

Suitable AAV vectors for expressing the dsRNA featured in the invention, methods for constructing the recombinant AV vector, and methods for delivering the vectors into target cells are described in Samulski R et al. (1987), J. Virol. 61: 3096-3101; Fisher K J et al. (1996), J. Virol, 70: 520-532; Samulski R et al. (1989), J. Virol. 63: 3822-3826; U.S. Pat. No. 5,252,479; U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,941; International Patent Application No. WO 94/13788; and International Patent Application No. WO 93/24641, the entire disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference.

The promoter driving dsRNA expression in either a DNA plasmid or viral vector featured in the invention may be a eukaryotic RNA polymerase I (e.g., ribosomal RNA promoter), RNA polymerase II (e.g., CMV early promoter or actin promoter or U1 snRNA promoter) or generally RNA polymerase III promoter (e.g., U6 snRNA or 7SK RNA promoter) or a prokaryotic promoter, for example the T7 promoter, provided the expression plasmid also encodes T7 RNA polymerase required for transcription from a T7 promoter. The promoter can also direct transgene expression to the pancreas (see, e.g., the insulin regulatory sequence for pancreas (Bucchini et al., 1986, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:2511-2515)).

In addition, expression of the transgene can be precisely regulated, for example, by using an inducible regulatory sequence and expression systems such as a regulatory sequence that is sensitive to certain physiological regulators, e.g., circulating glucose levels, or hormones (Docherty et al., 1994, FASEB J. 8:20-24). Such inducible expression systems, suitable for the control of transgene expression in cells or in mammals include regulation by ecdysone, by estrogen, progesterone, tetracycline, chemical inducers of dimerization, and isopropyl-beta-D1-thiogalactopyranoside (EPTG). A person skilled in the art would be able to choose the appropriate regulatory/promoter sequence based on the intended use of the dsRNA transgene.

Generally, recombinant vectors capable of expressing dsRNA molecules are delivered as described below, and persist in target cells. Alternatively, viral vectors can be used that provide for transient expression of dsRNA molecules. Such vectors can be repeatedly administered as necessary. Once expressed, the dsRNAs bind to target RNA and modulate its function or expression. Delivery of dsRNA expressing vectors can be systemic, such as by intravenous or intramuscular administration, by administration to target cells ex-planted from the patient followed by reintroduction into the patient, or by any other means that allows for introduction into a desired target cell.

dsRNA expression DNA plasmids are typically transfected into target cells as a complex with cationic lipid carriers (e.g., Oligofectamine) or non-cationic lipid-based carriers (e.g., Transit-TKO™). Multiple lipid transfections for dsRNA-mediated knockdowns targeting different regions of a single target gene or multiple target genes over a period of a week or more are also contemplated by the invention. Successful introduction of vectors into host cells can be monitored using various known methods. For example, transient transfection can be signaled with a reporter, such as a fluorescent marker, such as Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP). Stable transfection of cells ex vivo can be ensured using markers that provide the transfected cell with resistance to specific environmental factors (e.g., antibiotics and drugs), such as hygromycin B resistance.

The deltaEGFR- and IL6-specific dsRNA molecules can also be inserted into vectors and used as gene therapy vectors for human patients. Gene therapy vectors can be delivered to a subject by, for example, intravenous injection, local administration (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,470) or by stereotactic injection (see e.g., Chen et al. (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:3054-3057). The pharmaceutical preparation of the gene therapy vector can include the gene therapy vector in an acceptable diluent, or can include a slow release matrix in which the gene delivery vehicle is imbedded. Alternatively, where the complete gene delivery vector can be produced intact from recombinant cells, e.g., retroviral vectors, the pharmaceutical preparation can include one or more cells which produce the gene delivery system.

III. PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING dsRNA

In one embodiment, the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions containing a dsRNA, as described herein, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The pharmaceutical composition containing the dsRNA is useful for treating a disease or disorder associated with the expression or activity of the deltaEGFR gene and/or the IL6 gene, such as pathological processes mediated by deltaEGFR or IL6 expression. Such pharmaceutical compositions are formulated based on the mode of delivery. One example is a composition formulated for direct delivery into the brain parenchyma, e.g., by infusion into the brain, such as by continuous pump infusion. Another example is a composition formulated for intraventricular or intrathecal delivery into the cerebrospinal fluid, e.g., by bolus or continuous pump infusion. Another example is a compositions formulated for systemic administration via parenteral delivery, e.g., by intravenous (IV) delivery.

The pharmaceutical compositions featured herein are administered in dosages sufficient to inhibit expression of the target gene, e.g, the deltaEGFR or IL6 gene. In general, a suitable dose of dsRNA will be in the range of 0.01 to 200.0 milligrams per kilogram body weight of the recipient per day, generally in the range of 0.02 to 50 mg per kilogram body weight per day. For example, the dsRNA can be administered at 0.01 mg/kg, 0.05 mg/kg, 0.1 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg, or 50 mg/kg per single dose. The pharmaceutical composition may be administered once daily, or the dsRNA may be administered as two, three, or more sub-doses at appropriate intervals throughout the day or even using continuous infusion or delivery through a controlled release formulation. In that case, the dsRNA contained in each sub-dose must be correspondingly smaller in order to achieve the total daily dosage. The dosage unit can also be compounded for delivery over several days, e.g., using a conventional sustained release formulation which provides sustained release of the dsRNA over a several day period. Sustained release formulations are well known in the art and are particularly useful for delivery of agents at a particular site, such as could be used with the agents featured in the invention. In this embodiment, the dosage unit contains a corresponding multiple of the daily dose.

The effect of a single dose of dsRNA on target RNA levels, e.g., deltaEGFR levels (or both deltaEGFR and wtEGFR levels) or IL6 levels, is long lasting, such that subsequent doses are administered at not more than 3, 4, or 5 day intervals, or at not more than 1, 2, 3, or 4 week intervals.

The present invention includes pharmaceutical compositions that can be delivered by injection directly into the brain. The injection can be by stereotactic injection into the brain tumor directly, or into a particular region of the brain (e.g., into white matter, such as the corona radiata, or the substantia nigra, cortex, hippocampus, striatum, or globus pallidus), or the dsRNA can be delivered into multiple regions of the central nervous system (e.g., into multiple regions of the brain, and/or into the spinal cord). The dsRNA can also be delivered into diffuse regions of the brain (e.g., diffuse delivery to the cortex of the brain).

In one embodiment, a dsRNA targeting deltaEGFR or IL-6 can be delivered by way of a cannula or other delivery device having one end implanted in a tissue, e.g., the brain, e.g., the white matter, such as the corona radiata, or the substantia nigra, cortex, hippocampus, striatum, corpus callosum or globus pallidus of the brain. In one embodiment, the cannula or other delivery device has one end implanted into a tumor in the brain. The cannula can be connected to a reservoir of the dsRNA composition. The flow or delivery can be mediated by a pump. In one embodiment, a pump and reservoir are implanted in an area distant from the tissue, e.g., in the abdomen, and delivery is effected by a conduit leading from the pump or reservoir to the site of release. Infusion of the dsRNA composition into the brain can be over several hours or for several days, e.g., for 1, 2, 3, 5, or 7 days or more. Devices for delivery to the brain are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,093,180, and 5,814,014. In another embodiment, the pump is externalized (not implanted). Infusion of the dsRNA composition into the brain can be over several hours or for several days up to approximately 7 days, e.g., for 1, 2, 3, 5, or 7 days.

The skilled artisan will appreciate that certain factors may influence the dosage and timing required to effectively treat a subject, including but not limited to the severity of the disease or disorder, previous treatments, the general health and/or age of the subject, and other diseases present. Moreover, treatment of a subject with a therapeutically effective amount of a composition can include a single treatment or a series of treatments. Estimates of effective dosages and in vivo half-lives for the individual dsRNAs encompassed by the invention can be made using conventional methodologies or on the basis of in vivo testing using an appropriate animal model, as described elsewhere herein.

Advances in mouse genetics have generated a number of mouse models for the study of various human diseases, such as pathological processes mediated by deltaEGFR or IL6 expression. Such models are used for in vivo testing of dsRNA, as well as for determining a therapeutically effective dose.

The present invention also includes pharmaceutical compositions and formulations which include the dsRNA compounds featured in the invention. The pharmaceutical compositions may be administered in a number of ways depending upon whether local or systemic treatment is desired and upon the area to be treated. Administration may be topical (e.g., by transdermal patch), pulmonary, e.g., by inhalation or insufflation of powders or aerosols, including by nebulizer; intratracheal, intranasal, epidermal and transdermal, oral or parenteral. Parenteral administration includes intravenous, intraarterial, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal or intramuscular injection or infusion; subdermal, e.g., via an implanted device; or intracranial, e.g., by intraparenchymal, intrathecal or intraventricular, administration.

Pharmaceutical compositions and formulations for topical administration may include transdermal patches, ointments, lotions, creams, gels, drops, suppositories, sprays, liquids and powders. Conventional pharmaceutical carriers, aqueous, powder or oily bases, thickeners and the like may be necessary or desirable. Coated condoms, gloves and the like may also be useful. Suitable topical formulations include those in which the dsRNAs featured in the invention are in admixture with a topical delivery agent such as lipids, liposomes, fatty acids, fatty acid esters, steroids, chelating agents and surfactants. Suitable lipids and liposomes include neutral (e.g., dioleoylphosphatidyl DOPE ethanolamine, dimyristoylphosphatidyl choline DMPC, distearolyphosphatidyl choline) negative (e.g., dimyristoylphosphatidyl glycerol DMPG) and cationic (e.g., dioleoyltetramethylaminopropyl DOTAP and dioleoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine DOTMA). DsRNAs featured in the invention may be encapsulated within liposomes or may form complexes thereto, in particular to cationic liposomes. Alternatively, dsRNAs may be complexed to lipids, in particular to cationic lipids. Suitable fatty acids and esters include but are not limited to arachidonic acid, oleic acid, eicosanoic acid, lauric acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, dicaprate, tricaprate, monoolein, dilaurin, glyceryl 1-monocaprate, 1-dodecylazacycloheptan-2-one, an acylcarnitine, an acylcholine, or a C₁₋₁₀ alkyl ester (e.g., isopropylmyristate IPM), monoglyceride, diglyceride or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Topical formulations are described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,747,014, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In one embodiment, a deltaEGFR or an IL-6 dsRNA featured in the invention is fully encapsulated in the lipid formulation (e.g., to form a SPLP, pSPLP, SNALP, or other nucleic acid-lipid particle). As used herein, the term “SNALP” refers to a stable nucleic acid-lipid particle, including SPLP. As used herein, the term “SPLP” refers to a nucleic acid-lipid particle comprising plasmid DNA encapsulated within a lipid vesicle. SNALPs and SPLPs typically contain a cationic lipid, a non-cationic lipid, and a lipid that prevents aggregation of the particle (e.g., a PEG-lipid conjugate). SNALPs and SPLPs are extremely useful for systemic applications, as they exhibit extended circulation lifetimes following intravenous (i.v.) injection and accumulate at distal sites (e.g., sites physically separated from the administration site). SPLPs include “pSPLP,” which include an encapsulated condensing agent-nucleic acid complex as set forth in PCT Publication No. WO 00/03683. The particles typically have a mean diameter of about 50 nm to about 150 nm, more typically about 60 nm to about 130 nm, more typically about 70 nm to about 110 nm, most typically about 70 to about 90 nm, and are substantially nontoxic. In addition, the nucleic acids when present in the nucleic acid-lipid particles are resistant in aqueous solution to degradation with a nuclease. Nucleic acid-lipid particles and their method of preparation are disclosed in, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,976,567; 5,981,501; 6,534,484; 6,586,410; 6,815,432; and PCT Publication No. WO 96/40964.

In one embodiment, the lipid to drug ratio (mass/mass ratio) (e.g., lipid to dsRNA ratio) will be in the range of from about 1:1 to about 50:1, from about 1:1 to about 25:1, from about 3:1 to about 15:1, from about 4:1 to about 10:1, from about 5:1 to about 9:1, or about 6:1 to about 9:1.

The cationic lipid may be, for example, N,N-dioleyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride (DODAC), N,N-distearyl-N,N-dimethylammonium bromide (DDAB), N-(1-(2,3-dioleoyloxy)propyl)-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTAP), N-(1-(2,3-dioleyloxy)propyl)-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTMA), N,N-dimethyl-2,3-dioleyloxy)propylamine (DODMA), 1,2-Dilinoleyloxy-N,N-dimethylaminopropane (DLinDMA), 1,2-Dilinolenyloxy-N,N-dimethylaminopropane (DLenDMA), 1,2-Dilinoleylcarbamoyloxy-3-dimethylaminopropane (DLin-C-DAP), 1,2-Dilinoleyloxy-3-(dimethylamino)acetoxypropane (DLin-DAC), 1,2-Dilinoleyloxy-3-morpholinopropane (DLin-MA), 1,2-Dilinoleoyl-3-dimethylaminopropane (DLinDAP), 1,2-Dilinoleylthio-3-dimethylaminopropane (DLin-S-DMA), 1-Linoleoyl-2-linoleyloxy-3-dimethylaminopropane (DLin-2-DMAP), 1,2-Dilinoleyloxy-3-trimethylaminopropane chloride salt (DLin-TMA.Cl), 1,2-Dilinoleoyl-3-trimethylaminopropane chloride salt (DLin-TAP.Cl), 1,2-Dilinoleyloxy-3-(N-methylpiperazino)propane (DLin-MPZ), or 3-(N,N-Dilinoleylamino)-1,2-propanediol (DLinAP), 3-(N,N-Dioleylamino)-1,2-propanedio (DOAP), 1,2-Dilinoleyloxo-3-(2-N,N-dimethylamino)ethoxypropane (DLin-EG-DMA), 2,2-Dilinoleyl-4-dimethylaminomethyl-[1,3]-dioxolane (DLin-K-DMA), or a mixture thereof. The cationic lipid may comprise from about 20 mol % to about 50 mol % or about 40 mol % of the total lipid present in the particle.

The non-cationic lipid may be an anionic lipid or a neutral lipid including, but not limited to, distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC), dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC), dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol (DOPG), dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol (DPPG), dioleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE), palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylcholine (POPC), palmitoyloleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (POPE), dioleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine 4-(N-maleimidomethyl)-cyclohexane-1-carboxylate (DOPE-mal), dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine (DPPE), dimyristoylphosphoethanolamine (DMPE), distearoyl-phosphatidyl-ethanolamine (DSPE), 16-O-monomethyl PE, 16-O-dimethyl PE, 18-1-trans PE, 1-stearoyl-2-oleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (SOPE), cholesterol, or a mixture thereof. The non-cationic lipid may be from about 5 mol % to about 90 mol %, about 10 mol %, or about 58 mol % if cholesterol is included, of the total lipid present in the particle.

The conjugated lipid that inhibits aggregation of particles may be, for example, a polyethyleneglycol (PEG)-lipid including, without limitation, a PEG-diacylglycerol (DAG), a PEG-dialkyloxypropyl (DAA), a PEG-phospholipid, a PEG-ceramide (Cer), or a mixture thereof. The PEG-DAA conjugate may be, for example, a PEG-dilauryloxypropyl (Ci₂), a PEG-dimyristyloxypropyl (Ci₄), a PEG-dipalmityloxypropyl (Ci₆), or a PEG-distearyloxypropyl (Ci₈). The conjugated lipid that prevents aggregation of particles may be from 0 mol % to about 20 mol % or about 2 mol % of the total lipid present in the particle.

In some embodiments, the nucleic acid-lipid particle further includes cholesterol at, e.g., about 10 mol % to about 60 mol % or about 48 mol % of the total lipid present in the particle.

In one embodiment, the lipidoid ND98.4HCl (MW 1487) (Formula 1), Cholesterol (Sigma-Aldrich), and PEG-Ceramide C16 (Avanti Polar Lipids) can be used to prepare lipid-siRNA nanoparticles (i.e., LNP01 particles). Stock solutions of each in ethanol can be prepared as follows: ND98, 133 mg/mL; Cholesterol, 25 mg/mL, PEG-Ceramide C16, 100 mg/mL. The ND98, Cholesterol, and PEG-Ceramide C16 stock solutions can then be combined in a, e.g., 42:48:10 molar ratio. The combined lipid solution can be mixed with aqueous siRNA (e.g., in sodium acetate pH 5) such that the final ethanol concentration is about 35-45% and the final sodium acetate concentration is about 100-300 mM. Lipid-siRNA nanoparticles typically form spontaneously upon mixing. Depending on the desired particle size distribution, the resultant nanoparticle mixture can be extruded through a polycarbonate membrane (e.g., 100 nm cut-off) using, for example, a thermobarrel extruder, such as Lipex Extruder (Northern Lipids, Inc). In some cases, the extrusion step can be omitted. Ethanol removal and simultaneous buffer exchange can be accomplished by, for example, dialysis or tangential flow filtration. Buffer can be exchanged with, for example, phosphate buffered saline (PBS) at about pH 7, e.g., about pH 6.9, about pH 7.0, about pH 7.1, about pH 7.2, about pH 7.3, or about pH 7.4.

LNP01 formulations are described, e.g., in International Application Publication No. WO 2008/042973, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Formulations prepared by either the standard or extrusion-free method can be characterized in similar manners. For example, formulations are typically characterized by visual inspection. They should be whitish translucent solutions free from aggregates or sediment. Particle size and particle size distribution of lipid-nanoparticles can be measured by light scattering using, for example, a Malvern Zetasizer Nano ZS (Malvern, USA). Particles should be about 20-300 nm, such as 40-100 nm in size. The particle size distribution should be unimodal. The total siRNA concentration in the formulation, as well as the entrapped fraction, is estimated using a dye exclusion assay. A sample of the formulated siRNA can be incubated with an RNA-binding dye, such as Ribogreen (Molecular Probes) in the presence or absence of a formulation disrupting surfactant, e.g., 0.5% Triton-X100. The total siRNA in the formulation can be determined by the signal from the sample containing the surfactant, relative to a standard curve. The entrapped fraction is determined by subtracting the “free” siRNA content (as measured by the signal in the absence of surfactant) from the total siRNA content. Percent entrapped siRNA is typically >85%. For SNALP formulation, the particle size is at least 30 nm, at least 40 nm, at least 50 nm, at least 60 nm, at least 70 nm, at least 80 nm, at least 90 nm, at least 100 nm, at least 110 nm, and at least 120 nm. The suitable range is typically about at least 50 nm to about at least 110 nm, about at least 60 nm to about at least 100 nm, or about at least 80 nm to about at least 90 nm.

Compositions and formulations for oral administration include powders or granules, microparticulates, nanoparticulates, suspensions or solutions in water or non-aqueous media, capsules, gel capsules, sachets, tablets or minitablets. Thickeners, flavoring agents, diluents, emulsifiers, dispersing aids or binders may be desirable. In some embodiments, oral formulations are those in which dsRNAs featured in the invention are administered in conjunction with one or more penetration enhancers surfactants and chelators. Suitable surfactants include fatty acids and/or esters or salts thereof, bile acids and/or salts thereof. Suitable bile acids/salts include chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and ursodeoxychenodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), cholic acid, dehydrocholic acid, deoxycholic acid, glucholic acid, glycholic acid, glycodeoxycholic acid, taurocholic acid, taurodeoxycholic acid, sodium tauro-24,25-dihydro-fusidate and sodium glycodihydrofusidate. Suitable fatty acids include arachidonic acid, undecanoic acid, oleic acid, lauric acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, dicaprate, tricaprate, monoolein, dilaurin, glyceryl 1-monocaprate, 1-dodecylazacycloheptan-2-one, an acylcarnitine, an acylcholine, or a monoglyceride, a diglyceride or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof (e.g., sodium). In some embodiments, combinations of penetration enhancers are used, for example, fatty acids/salts in combination with bile acids/salts. One exemplary combination is the sodium salt of lauric acid, capric acid and UDCA. Further penetration enhancers include polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene-20-cetyl ether. DsRNAs featured in the invention may be delivered orally, in granular form including sprayed dried particles, or complexed to form micro or nanoparticles. DsRNA complexing agents include poly-amino acids; polyimines; polyacrylates; polyalkylacrylates, polyoxethanes, polyalkylcyanoacrylates; cationized gelatins, albumins, starches, acrylates, polyethyleneglycols (PEG) and starches; polyalkylcyanoacrylates; DEAE-derivatized polyimines, pollulans, celluloses and starches. Suitable complexing agents include chitosan, N-trimethylchitosan, poly-L-lysine, polyhistidine, polyornithine, polyspermines, protamine, polyvinylpyridine, polythiodiethylaminomethylethylene P(TDAE), polyaminostyrene (e.g., p-amino), poly(methylcyanoacrylate), poly(ethylcyanoacrylate), poly(butylcyanoacrylate), poly(isobutylcyanoacrylate), poly(isohexylcynaoacrylate), DEAE-methacrylate, DEAE-hexylacrylate, DEAE-acrylamide, DEAE-albumin and DEAE-dextran, polymethylacrylate, polyhexylacrylate, poly(D,L-lactic acid), poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), alginate, and polyethyleneglycol (PEG). Oral formulations for dsRNAs and their preparation are described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,887,906, US Publn. No. 20030027780, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,747,014, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Compositions and formulations for parenteral, intraparenchymal (into the brain), intrathecal, intraventricular or intrahepatic administration may include sterile aqueous solutions which may also contain buffers, diluents and other suitable additives such as, but not limited to, penetration enhancers, carrier compounds and other pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients.

Pharmaceutical compositions featured in the invention include, but are not limited to, solutions, emulsions, and liposome-containing formulations. These compositions may be generated from a variety of components that include, but are not limited to, preformed liquids, self-emulsifying solids and self-emulsifying semisolids. Particularly preferred are formulations that target the liver when treating hepatic disorders such as hepatic carcinoma.

The pharmaceutical formulations, which may conveniently be presented in unit dosage form, may be prepared according to conventional techniques well known in the pharmaceutical industry. Such techniques include the step of bringing into association the active ingredients with the pharmaceutical carrier(s) or excipient(s). In general, the formulations are prepared by uniformly and intimately bringing into association the active ingredients with liquid carriers or finely divided solid carriers or both, and then, if necessary, shaping the product.

The compositions may be formulated into any of many possible dosage forms such as, but not limited to, tablets, capsules, gel capsules, liquid syrups, soft gels, suppositories, and enemas. The compositions may also be formulated as suspensions in aqueous, non-aqueous or mixed media. Aqueous suspensions may further contain substances which increase the viscosity of the suspension including, for example, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, sorbitol and/or dextran. The suspension may also contain stabilizers.

Emulsions

The compositions may be prepared and formulated as emulsions. Emulsions are typically heterogenous systems of one liquid dispersed in another in the form of droplets usually exceeding 0.1 .mu.m in diameter (Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 199; Rosoff, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., Volume 1, p. 245; Block in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 2, p. 335; Higuchi et al., in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa., 1985, p. 301). Emulsions are often biphasic systems comprising two immiscible liquid phases intimately mixed and dispersed with each other. In general, emulsions may be of either the water-in-oil (w/o) or the oil-in-water (o/w) variety. When an aqueous phase is finely divided into and dispersed as minute droplets into a bulk oily phase, the resulting composition is called a water-in-oil (w/o) emulsion. Alternatively, when an oily phase is finely divided into and dispersed as minute droplets into a bulk aqueous phase, the resulting composition is called an oil-in-water (o/w) emulsion. Emulsions may contain additional components in addition to the dispersed phases, and the active drug which may be present as a solution in either the aqueous phase, oily phase or itself as a separate phase. Pharmaceutical excipients such as emulsifiers, stabilizers, dyes, and anti-oxidants may also be present in emulsions as needed. Pharmaceutical emulsions may also be multiple emulsions that are comprised of more than two phases such as, for example, in the case of oil-in-water-in-oil (o/w/o) and water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) emulsions. Such complex formulations often provide certain advantages that simple binary emulsions do not. Multiple emulsions in which individual oil droplets of an o/w emulsion enclose small water droplets constitute a w/o/w emulsion. Likewise a system of oil droplets enclosed in globules of water stabilized in an oily continuous phase provides an o/w/o emulsion.

Emulsions are characterized by little or no thermodynamic stability. Often, the dispersed or discontinuous phase of the emulsion is well dispersed into the external or continuous phase and maintained in this form through the means of emulsifiers or the viscosity of the formulation. Either of the phases of the emulsion may be a semisolid or a solid, as is the case of emulsion-style ointment bases and creams. Other means of stabilizing emulsions entail the use of emulsifiers that may be incorporated into either phase of the emulsion. Emulsifiers may broadly be classified into four categories: synthetic surfactants, naturally occurring emulsifiers, absorption bases, and finely dispersed solids (Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 199).

Synthetic surfactants, also known as surface active agents, have found wide applicability in the formulation of emulsions and have been reviewed in the literature (Rieger, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 285; Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., 1988, volume 1, p. 199). Surfactants are typically amphiphilic and comprise a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic portion. The ratio of the hydrophilic to the hydrophobic nature of the surfactant has been termed the hydrophile/lipophile balance (HLB) and is a valuable tool in categorizing and selecting surfactants in the preparation of formulations. Surfactants may be classified into different classes based on the nature of the hydrophilic group: nonionic, anionic, cationic and amphoteric (Rieger, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 285).

Naturally occurring emulsifiers used in emulsion formulations include lanolin, beeswax, phosphatides, lecithin and acacia. Absorption bases possess hydrophilic properties such that they can soak up water to form w/o emulsions yet retain their semisolid consistencies, such as anhydrous lanolin and hydrophilic petrolatum. Finely divided solids have also been used as good emulsifiers especially in combination with surfactants and in viscous preparations. These include polar inorganic solids, such as heavy metal hydroxides, nonswelling clays such as bentonite, attapulgite, hectorite, kaolin, montmorillonite, colloidal aluminum silicate and colloidal magnesium aluminum silicate, pigments and nonpolar solids such as carbon or glyceryl tristearate.

A large variety of non-emulsifying materials are also included in emulsion formulations and contribute to the properties of emulsions. These include fats, oils, waxes, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, fatty esters, humectants, hydrophilic colloids, preservatives and antioxidants (Block, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 335; Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 199).

Hydrophilic colloids or hydrocolloids include naturally occurring gums and synthetic polymers such as polysaccharides (for example, acacia, agar, alginic acid, carrageenan, guar gum, karaya gum, and tragacanth), cellulose derivatives (for example, carboxymethylcellulose and carboxypropylcellulose), and synthetic polymers (for example, carbomers, cellulose ethers, and carboxyvinyl polymers). These disperse or swell in water to form colloidal solutions that stabilize emulsions by forming strong interfacial films around the dispersed-phase droplets and by increasing the viscosity of the external phase.

Since emulsions often contain a number of ingredients such as carbohydrates, proteins, sterols and phosphatides that may readily support the growth of microbes, these formulations often incorporate preservatives. Commonly used preservatives included in emulsion formulations include methyl paraben, propyl paraben, quaternary ammonium salts, benzalkonium chloride, esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and boric acid. Antioxidants are also commonly added to emulsion formulations to prevent deterioration of the formulation. Antioxidants used may be free radical scavengers such as tocopherols, alkyl gallates, butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, or reducing agents such as ascorbic acid and sodium metabisulfite, and antioxidant synergists such as citric acid, tartaric acid, and lecithin.

The application of emulsion formulations via dermatological, oral and parenteral routes and methods for their manufacture have been reviewed in the literature (Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 199). Emulsion formulations for oral delivery have been very widely used because of ease of formulation, as well as efficacy from an absorption and bioavailability standpoint (Rosoff, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 245; Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 199). Mineral-oil base laxatives, oil-soluble vitamins and high fat nutritive preparations are among the materials that have commonly been administered orally as o/w emulsions.

In one embodiment, the compositions of dsRNAs and nucleic acids are formulated as microemulsions. A microemulsion may be defined as a system of water, oil and amphiphile which is a single optically isotropic and thermodynamically stable liquid solution (Rosoff, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 245). Typically microemulsions are systems that are prepared by first dispersing an oil in an aqueous surfactant solution and then adding a sufficient amount of a fourth component, generally an intermediate chain-length alcohol to form a transparent system. Therefore, microemulsions have also been described as thermodynamically stable, isotropically clear dispersions of two immiscible liquids that are stabilized by interfacial films of surface-active molecules (Leung and Shah, in: Controlled Release of Drugs: Polymers and Aggregate Systems, Rosoff, M., Ed., 1989, VCH Publishers, New York, pages 185-215). Microemulsions commonly are prepared via a combination of three to five components that include oil, water, surfactant, cosurfactant and electrolyte. Whether the microemulsion is of the water-in-oil (w/o) or an oil-in-water (o/w) type is dependent on the properties of the oil and surfactant used and on the structure and geometric packing of the polar heads and hydrocarbon tails of the surfactant molecules (Schott, in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa., 1985, p. 271).

The phenomenological approach utilizing phase diagrams has been extensively studied and has yielded a comprehensive knowledge, to one skilled in the art, of how to formulate microemulsions (Rosoff, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 245; Block, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 335). Compared to conventional emulsions, microemulsions offer the advantage of solubilizing water-insoluble drugs in a formulation of thermodynamically stable droplets that are formed spontaneously.

Surfactants used in the preparation of microemulsions include, but are not limited to, ionic surfactants, non-ionic surfactants, Brij 96, polyoxyethylene oleyl ethers, polyglycerol fatty acid esters, tetraglycerol monolaurate (ML310), tetraglycerol monooleate (MO310), hexaglycerol monooleate (PO310), hexaglycerol pentaoleate (PO500), decaglycerol monocaprate (MCA750), decaglycerol monooleate (MO750), decaglycerol sesquioleate (SO750), decaglycerol decaoleate (DAO750), alone or in combination with cosurfactants. The cosurfactant, usually a short-chain alcohol such as ethanol, 1-propanol, and 1-butanol, serves to increase the interfacial fluidity by penetrating into the surfactant film and consequently creating a disordered film because of the void space generated among surfactant molecules. Microemulsions may, however, be prepared without the use of cosurfactants and alcohol-free self-emulsifying microemulsion systems are known in the art. The aqueous phase may typically be, but is not limited to, water, an aqueous solution of the drug, glycerol, PEG300, PEG400, polyglycerols, propylene glycols, and derivatives of ethylene glycol. The oil phase may include, but is not limited to, materials such as Captex 300, Captex 355, Capmul MCM, fatty acid esters, medium chain (C8-C12) mono, di, and tri-glycerides, polyoxyethylated glyceryl fatty acid esters, fatty alcohols, polyglycolized glycerides, saturated polyglycolized C8-C10 glycerides, vegetable oils and silicone oil.

Microemulsions are particularly of interest from the standpoint of drug solubilization and the enhanced absorption of drugs. Lipid based microemulsions (both o/w and w/o) have been proposed to enhance the oral bioavailability of drugs, including peptides (Constantinides et al., Pharmaceutical Research, 1994, 11, 1385-1390; Ritschel, Meth. Find. Exp. Clin. Pharmacol., 1993, 13, 205). Microemulsions afford advantages of improved drug solubilization, protection of drug from enzymatic hydrolysis, possible enhancement of drug absorption due to surfactant-induced alterations in membrane fluidity and permeability, ease of preparation, ease of oral administration over solid dosage forms, improved clinical potency, and decreased toxicity (Constantinides et al., Pharmaceutical Research, 1994, 11, 1385; Ho et al., J. Pharm. Sci., 1996, 85, 138-143). Often microemulsions may form spontaneously when their components are brought together at ambient temperature. This may be particularly advantageous when formulating thermolabile drugs, peptides or dsRNAs. Microemulsions have also been effective in the transdermal delivery of active components in both cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications. It is expected that the microemulsion compositions and formulations will facilitate the increased systemic absorption of dsRNAs and nucleic acids from the gastrointestinal tract, as well as improve the local cellular uptake of dsRNAs and nucleic acids.

Microemulsions may also contain additional components and additives such as sorbitan monostearate (Grill 3), Labrasol, and penetration enhancers to improve the properties of the formulation and to enhance the absorption of the dsRNAs and nucleic acids featured herein. Penetration enhancers used in the microemulsions may be classified as belonging to one of five broad categories—surfactants, fatty acids, bile salts, chelating agents, and non-chelating non-surfactants (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, p. 92). Each of these classes has been discussed above.

Liposomes

There are many organized surfactant structures besides microemulsions that have been studied and used for the formulation of drugs. These include monolayers, micelles, bilayers and vesicles. Vesicles, such as liposomes, have attracted great interest because of their specificity and the duration of action they offer from the standpoint of drug delivery. As used in the present invention, the term “liposome” means a vesicle composed of amphiphilic lipids arranged in a spherical bilayer or bilayers.

Liposomes are unilamellar or multilamellar vesicles which have a membrane formed from a lipophilic material and an aqueous interior. The aqueous portion contains the composition to be delivered. Cationic liposomes possess the advantage of being able to fuse to the cell wall. Non-cationic liposomes, although not able to fuse as efficiently with the cell wall, are taken up by macrophages in vivo.

In order to cross intact mammalian skin, lipid vesicles must pass through a series of fine pores, each with a diameter less than 50 nm, under the influence of a suitable transdermal gradient. Therefore, it is desirable to use a liposome which is highly deformable and able to pass through such fine pores.

Further advantages of liposomes include; liposomes obtained from natural phospholipids are biocompatible and biodegradable; liposomes can incorporate a wide range of water and lipid soluble drugs; liposomes can protect encapsulated drugs in their internal compartments from metabolism and degradation (Rosoff, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 245). Important considerations in the preparation of liposome formulations are the lipid surface charge, vesicle size and the aqueous volume of the liposomes.

Liposomes are useful for the transfer and delivery of active ingredients to the site of action. Because the liposomal membrane is structurally similar to biological membranes, when liposomes are applied to a tissue, the liposomes start to merge with the cellular membranes and as the merging of the liposome and cell progresses, the liposomal contents are emptied into the cell where the active agent may act.

Liposomal formulations have been the focus of extensive investigation as the mode of delivery for many drugs. There is growing evidence that for topical administration, liposomes present several advantages over other formulations. Such advantages include reduced side-effects related to high systemic absorption of the administered drug, increased accumulation of the administered drug at the desired target, and the ability to administer a wide variety of drugs, both hydrophilic and hydrophobic, into the skin.

Several reports have detailed the ability of liposomes to deliver agents including high-molecular weight DNA into the skin. Compounds including analgesics, antibodies, hormones and high-molecular weight DNAs have been administered to the skin. The majority of applications resulted in the targeting of the upper epidermis

Liposomes fall into two broad classes. Cationic liposomes are positively charged liposomes which interact with the negatively charged DNA molecules to form a stable complex. The positively charged DNA/liposome complex binds to the negatively charged cell surface and is internalized in an endosome. Due to the acidic pH within the endosome, the liposomes are ruptured, releasing their contents into the cell cytoplasm (Wang et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 1987, 147, 980-985).

Liposomes which are pH-sensitive or negatively-charged, entrap DNA rather than complex with it. Since both the DNA and the lipid are similarly charged, repulsion rather than complex formation occurs. Nevertheless, some DNA is entrapped within the aqueous interior of these liposomes. pH-sensitive liposomes have been used to deliver DNA encoding the thymidine kinase gene to cell monolayers in culture. Expression of the exogenous gene was detected in the target cells (Zhou et al., Journal of Controlled Release, 1992, 19, 269-274).

One major type of liposomal composition includes phospholipids other than naturally-derived phosphatidylcholine. Neutral liposome compositions, for example, can be formed from dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) or dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC). Anionic liposome compositions generally are formed from dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol, while anionic fusogenic liposomes are formed primarily from dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE). Another type of liposomal composition is formed from phosphatidylcholine (PC) such as, for example, soybean PC, and egg PC. Another type is formed from mixtures of phospholipid and/or phosphatidylcholine and/or cholesterol.

Several studies have assessed the topical delivery of liposomal drug formulations to the skin. Application of liposomes containing interferon to guinea pig skin resulted in a reduction of skin herpes sores while delivery of interferon via other means (e.g., as a solution or as an emulsion) were ineffective (Weiner et al., Journal of Drug Targeting, 1992, 2, 405-410). Further, an additional study tested the efficacy of interferon administered as part of a liposomal formulation to the administration of interferon using an aqueous system, and concluded that the liposomal formulation was superior to aqueous administration (du Plessis et al., Antiviral Research, 1992, 18, 259-265).

Non-ionic liposomal systems have also been examined to determine their utility in the delivery of drugs to the skin, in particular systems comprising non-ionic surfactant and cholesterol. Non-ionic liposomal formulations comprising Novasome™ I (glyceryl dilaurate/cholesterol/polyoxyethylene-10-stearyl ether) and Novasome™ II (glyceryl distearate/cholesterol/polyoxyethylene-10-stearyl ether) were used to deliver cyclosporin-A into the dermis of mouse skin. Results indicated that such non-ionic liposomal systems were effective in facilitating the deposition of cyclosporin-A into different layers of the skin (Hu et al. S.T.P. Pharma. Sci., 1994, 4, 6, 466).

Liposomes also include “sterically stabilized” liposomes, a term which, as used herein, refers to liposomes comprising one or more specialized lipids that, when incorporated into liposomes, result in enhanced circulation lifetimes relative to liposomes lacking such specialized lipids. Examples of sterically stabilized liposomes are those in which part of the vesicle-forming lipid portion of the liposome (A) comprises one or more glycolipids, such as monosialoganglioside G_(M)1, or (B) is derivatized with one or more hydrophilic polymers, such as a polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety. While not wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is thought in the art that, at least for sterically stabilized liposomes containing gangliosides, sphingomyelin, or PEG-derivatized lipids, the enhanced circulation half-life of these sterically stabilized liposomes derives from a reduced uptake into cells of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) (Allen et al., FEBS Letters, 1987, 223, 42; Wu et al., Cancer Research, 1993, 53, 3765).

Various liposomes comprising one or more glycolipids are known in the art. Papahadjopoulos et al. (Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 1987, 507, 64) reported the ability of monosialoganglioside G_(M)1, galactocerebroside sulfate and phosphatidylinositol to improve blood half-lives of liposomes. These findings were expounded upon by Gabizon et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 1988, 85, 6949). U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,028 and WO 88/04924, both to Allen et al., disclose liposomes comprising (1) sphingomyelin and (2) the ganglioside G_(M)1 or a galactocerebroside sulfate ester. U.S. Pat. No. 5,543,152 (Webb et al.) discloses liposomes comprising sphingomyelin. Liposomes comprising 1,2-sn-dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine are disclosed in WO 97/13499 (Lim et al).

Many liposomes comprising lipids derivatized with one or more hydrophilic polymers, and methods of preparation thereof, are known in the art. Sunamoto et al. (Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn., 1980, 53, 2778) described liposomes comprising a nonionic detergent, 2C₁₂15G, that contains a PEG moiety. Ilium et al. (FEBS Lett., 1984, 167, 79) noted that hydrophilic coating of polystyrene particles with polymeric glycols results in significantly enhanced blood half-lives. Synthetic phospholipids modified by the attachment of carboxylic groups of polyalkylene glycols (e.g., PEG) are described by Sears (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,426,330 and 4,534,899). Klibanov et al. (FEBS Lett., 1990, 268, 235) described experiments demonstrating that liposomes comprising phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) derivatized with PEG or PEG stearate have significant increases in blood circulation half-lives. Blume et al. (Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1990, 1029, 91) extended such observations to other PEG-derivatized phospholipids, e.g., DSPE-PEG, formed from the combination of distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DSPE) and PEG. Liposomes having covalently bound PEG moieties on their external surface are described in European Patent No. EP 0 445 131 B1 and WO 90/04384 to Fisher. Liposome compositions containing 1-20 mole percent of PE derivatized with PEG, and methods of use thereof, are described by Woodle et al. (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,013,556 and 5,356,633) and Martin et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,804 and European Patent No. EP 0 496 813 B1). Liposomes comprising a number of other lipid-polymer conjugates are disclosed in WO 91/05545 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,212 (both to Martin et al.) and in WO 94/20073 (Zalipsky et al.) Liposomes comprising PEG-modified ceramide lipids are described in WO 96/10391 (Choi et al). U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,935 (Miyazaki et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,948 (Tagawa et al.) describe PEG-containing liposomes that can be further derivatized with functional moieties on their surfaces.

A limited number of liposomes comprising nucleic acids are known in the art. WO 96/40062 to Thierry et al. discloses methods for encapsulating high molecular weight nucleic acids in liposomes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,221 to Tagawa et al. discloses protein-bonded liposomes and asserts that the contents of such liposomes may include a dsRNA. U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,710 to Rahman et al. describes certain methods of encapsulating oligodeoxynucleotides in liposomes. WO 97/04787 to Love et al. discloses liposomes comprising dsRNAs targeted to the raf gene.

Transfersomes are yet another type of liposomes, and are highly deformable lipid aggregates which are attractive candidates for drug delivery vehicles. Transfersomes may be described as lipid droplets which are so highly deformable that they are easily able to penetrate through pores which are smaller than the droplet. Transfersomes are adaptable to the environment in which they are used, e.g., they are self-optimizing (adaptive to the shape of pores in the skin), self-repairing, frequently reach their targets without fragmenting, and often self-loading. To make transfersomes it is possible to add surface edge-activators, usually surfactants, to a standard liposomal composition. Transfersomes have been used to deliver serum albumin to the skin. The transfersome-mediated delivery of serum albumin has been shown to be as effective as subcutaneous injection of a solution containing serum albumin.

Surfactants find wide application in formulations such as emulsions (including microemulsions) and liposomes. The most common way of classifying and ranking the properties of the many different types of surfactants, both natural and synthetic, is by the use of the hydrophile/lipophile balance (HLB). The nature of the hydrophilic group (also known as the “head”) provides the most useful means for categorizing the different surfactants used in formulations (Rieger, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., 1988, p. 285).

If the surfactant molecule is not ionized, it is classified as a nonionic surfactant. Nonionic surfactants find wide application in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products and are usable over a wide range of pH values. In general their HLB values range from 2 to about 18 depending on their structure. Nonionic surfactants include nonionic esters such as ethylene glycol esters, propylene glycol esters, glyceryl esters, polyglyceryl esters, sorbitan esters, sucrose esters, and ethoxylated esters. Nonionic alkanolamides and ethers such as fatty alcohol ethoxylates, propoxylated alcohols, and ethoxylated/propoxylated block polymers are also included in this class. The polyoxyethylene surfactants are the most popular members of the nonionic surfactant class.

If the surfactant molecule carries a negative charge when it is dissolved or dispersed in water, the surfactant is classified as anionic. Anionic surfactants include carboxylates such as soaps, acyl lactylates, acyl amides of amino acids, esters of sulfuric acid such as alkyl sulfates and ethoxylated alkyl sulfates, sulfonates such as alkyl benzene sulfonates, acyl isethionates, acyl taurates and sulfosuccinates, and phosphates. The most important members of the anionic surfactant class are the alkyl sulfates and the soaps.

If the surfactant molecule carries a positive charge when it is dissolved or dispersed in water, the surfactant is classified as cationic. Cationic surfactants include quaternary ammonium salts and ethoxylated amines. The quaternary ammonium salts are the most used members of this class.

If the surfactant molecule has the ability to carry either a positive or negative charge, the surfactant is classified as amphoteric. Amphoteric surfactants include acrylic acid derivatives, substituted alkylamides, N-alkylbetaines and phosphatides.

The use of surfactants in drug products, formulations and in emulsions has been reviewed (Rieger, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., 1988, p. 285).

Penetration Enhancers

In one embodiment, the present invention employs various penetration enhancers to effect the efficient delivery of nucleic acids, particularly dsRNAs, to the skin of animals. Most drugs are present in solution in both ionized and nonionized forms. However, usually only lipid soluble or lipophilic drugs readily cross cell membranes. It has been discovered that even non-lipophilic drugs may cross cell membranes if the membrane to be crossed is treated with a penetration enhancer. In addition to aiding the diffusion of non-lipophilic drugs across cell membranes, penetration enhancers also enhance the permeability of lipophilic drugs.

Penetration enhancers may be classified as belonging to one of five broad categories, i.e., surfactants, fatty acids, bile salts, chelating agents, and non-chelating non-surfactants (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, p. 92). Each of the above mentioned classes of penetration enhancers are described below in greater detail.

Surfactants: In connection with the present invention, surfactants (or “surface-active agents”) are chemical entities which, when dissolved in an aqueous solution, reduce the surface tension of the solution or the interfacial tension between the aqueous solution and another liquid, with the result that absorption of dsRNAs through the mucosa is enhanced. In addition to bile salts and fatty acids, these penetration enhancers include, for example, sodium lauryl sulfate, polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ether and polyoxyethylene-20-cetyl ether) (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, p. 92); and perfluorochemical emulsions, such as FC-43. Takahashi et al., J. Pharm. Pharmacol., 1988, 40, 252).

Fatty acids: Various fatty acids and their derivatives which act as penetration enhancers include, for example, oleic acid, lauric acid, capric acid (n-decanoic acid), myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, dicaprate, tricaprate, monoolein (1-monooleoyl-rac-glycerol), dilaurin, caprylic acid, arachidonic acid, glycerol 1-monocaprate, 1-dodecylazacycloheptan-2-one, acylcarnitines, acylcholines, C₁₋₁₀ alkyl esters thereof (e.g., methyl, isopropyl and t-butyl), and mono- and di-glycerides thereof (i.e., oleate, laurate, caprate, myristate, palmitate, stearate, linoleate, etc.) (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, p. 92; Muranishi, Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1990, 7, 1-33; El Hariri et al., J. Pharm. Pharmacol., 1992, 44, 651-654).

Bile salts: The physiological role of bile includes the facilitation of dispersion and absorption of lipids and fat-soluble vitamins (Brunton, Chapter 38 in: Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 9th Ed., Hardman et al. Eds., McGraw-Hill, New York, 1996, pp. 934-935). Various natural bile salts, and their synthetic derivatives, act as penetration enhancers. Thus the term “bile salts” includes any of the naturally occurring components of bile as well as any of their synthetic derivatives. Suitable bile salts include, for example, cholic acid (or its pharmaceutically acceptable sodium salt, sodium cholate), dehydrocholic acid (sodium dehydrocholate), deoxycholic acid (sodium deoxycholate), glucholic acid (sodium glucholate), glycholic acid (sodium glycocholate), glycodeoxycholic acid (sodium glycodeoxycholate), taurocholic acid (sodium taurocholate), taurodeoxycholic acid (sodium taurodeoxycholate), chenodeoxycholic acid (sodium chenodeoxycholate), ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), sodium tauro-24,25-dihydro-fusidate (STDHF), sodium glycodihydrofusidate and polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ether (POE) (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, page 92; Swinyard, Chapter 39 In: Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 18th Ed., Gennaro, ed., Mack Publishing, Co., Easton, Pa., 1990, pages 782-783; Muranishi, Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1990, 7, 1-33; Yamamoto et al., J. Pharm. Exp. Ther., 1992, 263, 25; Yamashita et al., J. Pharm. Sci., 1990, 79, 579-583).

Chelating Agents: Chelating agents, as used in connection with the present invention, can be defined as compounds that remove metallic ions from solution by forming complexes therewith, with the result that absorption of dsRNAs through the mucosa is enhanced. With regards to their use as penetration enhancers in the present invention, chelating agents have the added advantage of also serving as DNase inhibitors, as most characterized DNA nucleases require a divalent metal ion for catalysis and are thus inhibited by chelating agents (Jarrett, J. Chromatogr., 1993, 618, 315-339). Suitable chelating agents include but are not limited to disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), citric acid, salicylates (e.g., sodium salicylate, 5-methoxysalicylate and homovanilate), N-acyl derivatives of collagen, laureth-9 and N-amino acyl derivatives of beta-diketones (enamines) (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, page 92; Muranishi, Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1990, 7, 1-33; Buur et al., J. Control Rel., 1990, 14, 43-51).

Non-chelating non-surfactants: As used herein, non-chelating non-surfactant penetration enhancing compounds can be defined as compounds that demonstrate insignificant activity as chelating agents or as surfactants but that nonetheless enhance absorption of dsRNAs through the alimentary mucosa (Muranishi, Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1990, 7, 1-33). This class of penetration enhancers include, for example, unsaturated cyclic ureas, 1-alkyl- and 1-alkenylazacyclo-alkanone derivatives (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, page 92); and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents such as diclofenac sodium, indomethacin and phenylbutazone (Yamashita et al., J. Pharm. Pharmacol., 1987, 39, 621-626).

Agents that enhance uptake of dsRNAs at the cellular level may also be added to the pharmaceutical and other compositions featured in the invention. For example, cationic lipids, such as lipofectin (Junichi et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,188), cationic glycerol derivatives, and polycationic molecules, such as polylysine (Lollo et al., PCT Application WO 97/30731), are also known to enhance the cellular uptake of dsRNAs.

Other agents may be utilized to enhance the penetration of the administered nucleic acids, including glycols such as ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, pyrrols such as 2-pyrrol, azones, and terpenes such as limonene and menthone.

Carriers

Certain compositions also incorporate carrier compounds in the formulation. As used herein, “carrier compound” or “carrier” can refer to a nucleic acid, or analog thereof, which is inert (i.e., does not possess biological activity per se) but is recognized as a nucleic acid by in vivo processes that reduce the bioavailability of a nucleic acid having biological activity by, for example, degrading the biologically active nucleic acid or promoting its removal from circulation. The coadministration of a nucleic acid and a carrier compound, typically with an excess of the latter substance, can result in a substantial reduction of the amount of nucleic acid recovered in the liver, kidney or other extracirculatory reservoirs, presumably due to competition between the carrier compound and the nucleic acid for a common receptor. For example, the recovery of a partially phosphorothioate dsRNA in hepatic tissue can be reduced when it is coadministered with polyinosinic acid, dextran sulfate, polycytidic acid or 4-acetamido-4′isothiocyano-stilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid (Miyao et al., DsRNA Res. Dev., 1995, 5, 115-121; Takakura et al., DsRNA & Nucl. Acid Drug Dev., 1996, 6, 177-183.

Excipients

In contrast to a carrier compound, a “pharmaceutical carrier” or “excipient” is a pharmaceutically acceptable solvent, suspending agent or any other pharmacologically inert vehicle for delivering one or more nucleic acids to an animal. The excipient may be liquid or solid and is selected, with the planned manner of administration in mind, so as to provide for the desired bulk, consistency, etc., when combined with a nucleic acid and the other components of a given pharmaceutical composition. Typical pharmaceutical carriers include, but are not limited to, binding agents (e.g., pregelatinized maize starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, etc.); fillers (e.g., lactose and other sugars, microcrystalline cellulose, pectin, gelatin, calcium sulfate, ethyl cellulose, polyacrylates or calcium hydrogen phosphate, etc.); lubricants (e.g., magnesium stearate, talc, silica, colloidal silicon dioxide, stearic acid, metallic stearates, hydrogenated vegetable oils, corn starch, polyethylene glycols, sodium benzoate, sodium acetate, etc.); disintegrants (e.g., starch, sodium starch glycolate, etc.); and wetting agents (e.g., sodium lauryl sulphate, etc).

Pharmaceutically acceptable organic or inorganic excipient suitable for non-parenteral administration, which do not deleteriously react with nucleic acids, can also be used to formulate the compositions. Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include, but are not limited to, water, salt solutions, alcohols, polyethylene glycols, gelatin, lactose, amylose, magnesium stearate, talc, silicic acid, viscous paraffin, hydroxymethylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone and the like.

Formulations for topical administration of nucleic acids may include sterile and non-sterile aqueous solutions, non-aqueous solutions in common solvents such as alcohols, or solutions of the nucleic acids in liquid or solid oil bases. The solutions may also contain buffers, diluents and other suitable additives. Pharmaceutically acceptable organic or inorganic excipients suitable for non-parenteral administration which do not deleteriously react with nucleic acids can be used.

Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable excipients include, but are not limited to, water, salt solutions, alcohol, polyethylene glycols, gelatin, lactose, amylose, magnesium stearate, talc, silicic acid, viscous paraffin, hydroxymethylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone and the like.

Other Components

The compositions featured in the invention may additionally contain other adjunct components conventionally found in pharmaceutical compositions, at their art-established usage levels. Thus, for example, the compositions may contain additional, compatible, pharmaceutically-active materials such as, for example, antipruritics, astringents, local anesthetics or anti-inflammatory agents, or may contain additional materials useful in physically formulating various dosage forms of the compositions, such as dyes, flavoring agents, preservatives, antioxidants, opacifiers, thickening agents and stabilizers. However, such materials, when added, should not unduly interfere with the biological activities of the components of the compositions. The formulations can be sterilized and, if desired, mixed with auxiliary agents, e.g., lubricants, preservatives, stabilizers, wetting agents, emulsifiers, salts for influencing osmotic pressure, buffers, colorings, flavorings and/or aromatic substances and the like which do not deleteriously interact with the nucleic acid(s) of the formulation.

Aqueous suspensions may contain substances which increase the viscosity of the suspension including, for example, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, sorbitol and/or dextran. The suspension may also contain stabilizers.

In some embodiments, pharmaceutical compositions featured in the invention include (a) one or more dsRNA compounds and (b) one or more other chemotherapeutic agents which function by a non-RNAi mechanism. Examples of such chemotherapeutic agents include but are not limited to temozolomide, daunorubicin, daunomycin, dactinomycin, doxorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin, esorubicin, bleomycin, mafosfamide, ifosfamide, cytosine arabinoside, bis-chloroethylnitrosurea, busulfan, mitomycin C, actinomycin D, mithramycin, prednisone, hydroxyprogesterone, testosterone, tamoxifen, dacarbazine, procarbazine, hexamethylmelamine, pentamethylmelamine, mitoxantrone, amsacrine, chlorambucil, methylcyclohexylnitrosurea, nitrogen mustards, melphalan, cyclophosphamide, 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine, cytarabine, 5-azacytidine, hydroxyurea, deoxycoformycin, 4-hydroxyperoxycyclophosphoramide, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (5-FUdR), methotrexate (MTX), colchicine, taxol, vincristine, vinblastine, etoposide (VP-16), trimetrexate, irinotecan, topotecan, gemcitabine, teniposide, cisplatin and diethylstilbestrol (DES). See, generally, The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 15th Ed. 1987, pp. 1206-1228, Berkow et al., eds., Rahway, N.J. When used with the dsRNAs featured in the invention, such chemotherapeutic agents may be used individually (e.g., 5-FU and oligonucleotide), sequentially (e.g., 5-FU and oligonucleotide for a period of time followed by MTX and oligonucleotide), or in combination with one or more other such chemotherapeutic agents (e.g., 5-FU, MTX and oligonucleotide, or 5-FU, radiotherapy and oligonucleotide). Anti-inflammatory drugs, including but not limited to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids, and antiviral drugs, including but not limited to ribivirin, vidarabine, acyclovir and ganciclovir, may also be combined in compositions featured in the invention. See, generally, The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 15th Ed., Berkow et al., eds., 1987, Rahway, N.J., pages 2499-2506 and 46-49, respectively). Other non-RNAi chemotherapeutic agents are also within the scope of this invention. Two or more combined compounds may be used together or sequentially.

Toxicity and therapeutic efficacy of such compounds can be determined by standard pharmaceutical procedures in cell cultures or experimental animals, e.g., for determining the LD50 (the dose lethal to 50% of the population) and the ED50 (the dose therapeutically effective in 50% of the population). The dose ratio between toxic and therapeutic effects is the therapeutic index and it can be expressed as the ratio LD50/ED50. Compounds that exhibit high therapeutic indices are generally preferred.

The data obtained from cell culture assays and animal studies can be used in formulation a range of dosage for use in humans. The dosage of compositions featured in the invention lies generally within a range of circulating concentrations that include the ED50 with little or no toxicity. The dosage may vary within this range depending upon the dosage form employed and the route of administration utilized. For any compound used in the methods featured in the invention, the therapeutically effective dose can be estimated initially from cell culture assays. A dose may be formulated in animal models to achieve a circulating plasma concentration range of the compound or, when appropriate, of the polypeptide product of a target sequence (e.g., achieving a decreased concentration of the polypeptide) that includes the IC50 (i.e., the concentration of the test compound which achieves a half-maximal inhibition of symptoms) as determined in cell culture. Such information can be used to more accurately determine useful doses in humans. Levels in plasma may be measured, for example, by high performance liquid chromatography.

In addition to their administration, as discussed above, the dsRNAs featured in the invention can be administered in combination with other known agents effective in treatment of pathological processes mediated by deltaEGFR or IL6 expression. In any event, the administering physician can adjust the amount and timing of dsRNA administration on the basis of results observed using standard measures of efficacy known in the art or described herein.

Methods for Treating Diseases Caused by Expression of deltaEGFR or IL6 Genes

The invention relates in particular to the use of a dsRNA targeting deltaEGFR or IL6 and compositions containing at least one such dsRNA, for the treatment of a deltaEGFR-mediated disorder or disease. For example, a dsRNA targeting a deltaEGFR gene can be useful for the treatment of a proliferative disorder, such as cancer, such as glioma, e.g., a glial tumor of the central nervous system, such as a grade I, II, III, or IV glioma. For example, a composition containing a dsRNA targeting deltaEGFR can be used to treat a grade III glioma, such as anaplastic astrocytoma, or a grade IV glioma, such as a glioblastoma multiforme. The glioma can be an ependymoma, astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, or a mixed glioma, such as an oligoastrocytoma. A composition containing a dsRNA targeting a mutant EGFR, e.g., deltaEGFR or an IL6, is used to treat a carcinoma of the breast, ovary, cervix, kidney, or a squamous cell. The dsRNA targeting deltaEGFR can also target wtEGFR.

A composition containing a dsRNA targeting a mutant EGFR, e.g., a deltaEGFR or an IL6, may also be used to treat other tumors and cancers, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, head and neck cancer, brain cancer, abdominal cancer, colon cancer, colorectal cancer, esophagus cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, tongue cancer, neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, cervical cancer (e.g., squamous carcinoma of the cervix), lymphoid tumor, retinoblastoma, Wilm's tumor, multiple myeloma and for the treatment of skin cancer, like melanoma, for the treatment of lymphomas and blood cancer. The compositions featured herein can be used to treat a tumor of the brain or spine.

A dsRNA targeting deltaEGFR or IL6 may be used to treat a proliferative disorder or differentiative disorder. Examples of cellular proliferative and/or differentiative disorders include cancer, e.g., carcinoma, sarcoma, metastatic disorders or hematopoietic neoplastic disorders, e.g., leukemias. A metastatic tumor can arise from a multitude of primary tumor types, including those of prostate, colon, lung, breast and liver origin. As used herein, the terms “cancer,” “hyperproliferative,” and “neoplastic” refer to cells having the capacity for autonomous growth, i.e., an abnormal state or condition characterized by rapidly proliferating cell growth. These terms are meant to include all types of cancerous growths or oncogenic processes, metastatic tissues or malignantly transformed cells, tissues, or organs, irrespective of histopathologic type or stage of invasiveness. Proliferative disorders also include hematopoietic neoplastic disorders, including diseases involving hyperplastic/neoplastic cells of hematopoietic origin, e.g., arising from myeloid, lymphoid or erythroid lineages, or precursor cells thereof.

The invention further relates to the use of a dsRNA or a pharmaceutical composition thereof, e.g., for treating a cancer, in combination with other pharmaceuticals and/or other therapeutic methods, e.g., with known pharmaceuticals and/or known therapeutic methods, such as, for example, those which are currently employed for treating these disorders. In one example, administration of a dsRNA targeting deltaEGFR can be administered in combination with a chemotherapeutic agent, such as temozolomide, deoxycoformycin, cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil, adriamycin, daunorubicin, tamoxifen aunorubicin, daunomycin, dactinomycin, doxorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin, esorubicin, bleomycin, mafosfamide, ifosfamide, cytosine arabinoside, bis-chloroethylnitrosurea, busulfan, mitomycin C, actinomycin D, mithramycin, prednisone, hydroxyprogesterone, testosterone, tamoxifen, dacarbazine, procarbazine, hexamethylmelamine, pentamethylmelamine, mitoxantrone, amsacrine, chlorambucil, methylcyclohexylnitrosurea, nitrogen mustards, melphalan, cyclophosphamide, 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine, cytarabine, 5-azacytidine, hydroxyurea, deoxycoformycin, 4-hydroxyperoxycyclophosphoramide, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (5-FUdR), methotrexate (MTX), colchicine, taxol, vincristine, vinblastine, etoposide (VP-16), trimetrexate, irinotecan, topotecan, gemcitabine, teniposide, cisplatin and diethylstilbestrol (DES). See, generally, The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 15th Ed. 1987, pp. 1206-1228, Berkow et al., eds., Rahway, N.J. When used with the dsRNAs featured in the invention, such chemotherapeutic agents may be used individually, sequentially (e.g., dsRNA for a period of time, followed by chemotherapy), or in combination with one or more other such agents (e.g., chemotherapy and dsRNA). Two or more combined compounds may be used together or sequentially.

In one embodiment, a deltaEGFR dsRNA is administered in combination with at least one additional therapeutic agent, such as a second dsRNA targeting a different nucleic acid, e.g., an IL6 dsRNA, for the treatment of a condition or a symptom of a condition, such as for the treatment of a cancer. In some embodiments, the second therapeutic agent is a chemotherapeutic agent.

The dsRNA and an additional therapeutic agent can be administered in the same combination, e.g., intracranially or parenterally, or the additional therapeutic agent can be administered as part of a separate composition, e.g., intracranially or parenterally, or by another method described herein.

Treatment with a dsRNA targeting deltaEGFR can also be performed in combination with radiation therapy, including external beam radiation, such as for treatment of tumors of the brain. A dsRNA featured herein may be administered before or after a surgical procedure to treat a cancer (e.g., to remove a tumor), such as resection of a brain tumor.

The invention also relates to the use of a dsRNA targeting IL6 and compositions containing at least one such dsRNA, for the treatment of a IL6 or a deltaEGFR-mediated disorder or disease. For example, an IL-6 dsRNA featured in the invention may be used to treat a hematological disorder, such as plasma cell dyscrasia, leukemia or lymphoma; proliferative glomerulonephritis; an inflammatory disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, or an inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis; diabetes; septic shock; bacterial infections; viral infections, including HIV-1 infections; osteoporosis; autoimmune disorders, such as chronic immune deficiency syndrome or autoimmune deficiency syndrome (AIDS); neural disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, HTLV1-associated myelopathy or bacterial meningitis, systemic lupus erythematosus and vasculitis-associated central nervous system diseases; or other disorders of the central nervous system, including Alzheimer's disease, hypochondria, epilepsy, migraine, pain, Parkin's disease or schizophrenia.

An IL-6 dsRNA featured in the invention may also be used to prevent allograft rejection or xenograft rejection and ischemia/reperfusion injury in solid organ or tissue transplantation. For example, an IL-6 dsRNA can be administered to prevent rejection of a transplanted organ, such as a transplanted kidney, liver, lung, pancrease, heart, small bowel, cornea, epithelial cells, vascular endothelium, vascular smooth muscle cells, myocardium and passenger leukocytes resident in the organ at the time of transplantation.

Treatment with a dsRNA targeting IL-6 can be performed in combination with a second dsRNA also targeting IL-6, and which targets a different sequence than a first dsRNA targeting IL-6. A dsRNA targeting IL-6 can also be administered in combination with one or more dsRNAs targeting other cytokines, immunomodulatory or immunoeffector genes, such as the C3 (complement component 3) gene, ICAM1 (intercellular adhesion molecule 1), VCAM-1 (vascular cell adhesion molecule 1), IFN-gamma (interferon gamma), IL-1 (interleukin-1), IL-8 (interleukin-8), TNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor-alpha), CD80, CD86, MHC-II (major histocompatibility complex-II), MHC-I (major histocompatibility complex-I), CD28, CTLA-4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4) or PV-B19 (parvovirus B19). As stated above, the IL6 dsRNA can also be administered in combination with a dsRNA targeting deltaEGFR, and optionally, also targeting wtEGFR, such as for the treatment of a deltaEGFR mediated disease, such as a cancer.

Patients can be administered a therapeutic amount of dsRNA, such as 0.01 mg/kg, 0.02 mg/kg, 0.1 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, 1.0 mg/kg, 1.5 mg/kg, 2.0 mg/kg, or 2.5 mg/kg dsRNA. The dsRNA can be administered by intracranial infusion over a period of time, such as over a 30 minute, 1 hour, 2 hour, 3 hour or 4 hour period. The administration is repeated, for example, on a regular basis, such as biweekly (i.e., every two weeks) for one month, two months, three months, four months or longer. After an initial treatment regimen, the treatments can be administered on a less frequent basis. For example, after administration biweekly for three months, administration can be repeated once per month, for six months or a year or longer. Intracranial infusion can be continuous. Administration of the dsRNA can reduce target RNA and protein levels, e.g., deltaEGFR or IL-6 levels, in the cerebrospinal fluid of the patient by at least 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% or 90% or more. Alternatively, the dsRNA can be administered by intravenous infusion over a period of time, such as over a 5 minute, 10 minute, 15 minute, 20 minute, or 25 minute period. The administration is repeated, for example, on a regular basis, such as biweekly (i.e., every two weeks) for one month, two months, three months, four months or longer. After an initial treatment regimen, the treatments can be administered on a less frequent basis. For example, after administration biweekly for three months, administration can be repeated once per month, for six months or a year or longer. Administration of the dsRNA can reduce deltaEGFR levels in the blood or urine of the patient by at least 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% or 90% or more.

Before administration of a full dose of the dsRNA, patients can be administered a smaller dose, such as 5% of the total dose, and monitored for adverse effects, such as an allergic reaction. Patients can be monitored for adverse effects depending on the formulation. For example, if the dsRNA is formulated in a lipid, the patient can be administered a smaller dose, and then monitored for elevated lipid levels or blood pressure. In another example, the patient can be monitored for unwanted immunostimulatory effects, such as increased cytokine (e.g., TNF-alpha or INF-alpha) levels.

Many EGFR- and IL6-associated diseases and disorders are hereditary. Therefore, a patient in need of a deltaEGFR dsRNA can be identified by taking a family history. A healthcare provider, such as a doctor, nurse, or family member, can take a family history before prescribing or administering a deltaEGFR dsRNA.

Owing to the inhibitory effects on deltaEGFR expression, and of the inhibitory effects of IL6 overexpression, a composition according to the invention or a pharmaceutical composition prepared therefrom can enhance the quality of life of a subject.

Methods for Inhibiting Expression of a deltaEGFR or IL6 Gene

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method for inhibiting expression of a deltaEGFR gene in a mammal. The method includes administering a composition featured in the invention to the mammal such that expression of the target deltaEGFR gene and, optionally, a wtEGFR gene is decreased or silenced. In one aspect, the invention provides a method for inhibiting expression of an IL6 gene in a mammal. The method includes administering a composition featured in the invention to the mammal such that expression of the target IL6 gene is decreased or silenced.

When the organism to be treated is a mammal such as a human, the composition may be administered by any means known in the art including, but not limited to oral or parenteral routes, including intracranial (e.g., intraventricular, intraparenchymal and intrathecal), intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, transdermal, airway (aerosol), nasal, rectal, and topical (including buccal and sublingual) administration. In certain embodiments, the compositions are administered by intravenous infusion or injection. In other embodiments, the compositions are administered by intracranial infusion or injection.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the dsRNAs and methods featured in the invention, suitable methods and materials are described below. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

EXAMPLES Example 1 dsRNA Synthesis

Source of Reagents

Where the source of a reagent is not specifically given herein, such reagent may be obtained from any supplier of reagents for molecular biology at a quality/purity standard for application in molecular biology.

siRNA Synthesis

Single-stranded RNAs were produced by solid phase synthesis on a scale of μmole using an Expedite 8909 synthesizer (Applied Biosystems, Applera Deutschland GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany) and controlled pore glass (CPG, 500 Å, Proligo Biochemie GmbH, Hamburg, Germany) as solid support. RNA and RNA containing 2′-O-methyl nucleotides were generated by solid phase synthesis employing the corresponding phosphoramidites and 2′-O-methyl phosphoramidites, respectively (Proligo Biochemie GmbH, Hamburg, Germany). These building blocks were incorporated at selected sites within the sequence of the oligoribonucleotide chain using standard nucleoside phosphoramidite chemistry such as described in Current protocols in nucleic acid chemistry, Beaucage, S. L. et al. (Edrs.), John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, N.Y., USA. Phosphorothioate linkages were introduced by replacement of the iodine oxidizer solution with a solution of the Beaucage reagent (Chruachem Ltd, Glasgow, UK) in acetonitrile (1%). Further ancillary reagents were obtained from Mallinckrodt Baker (Griesheim, Germany).

Deprotection and purification of the crude oligoribonucleotides by anion exchange HPLC were carried out according to established procedures. Yields and concentrations were determined by UV absorption of a solution of the respective RNA at a wavelength of 260 nm using a spectral photometer (DU 640B, Beckman Coulter GmbH, Unterschleiβheim, Germany). Double stranded RNA was generated by mixing an equimolar solution of complementary strands in annealing buffer (20 mM sodium phosphate, pH 6.8; 100 mM sodium chloride), heated in a water bath at 85-90° C. for 3 minutes and cooled to room temperature over a period of 3-4 hours. The annealed RNA solution was stored at −20° C. until use.

For the synthesis of 3′-cholesterol-conjugated siRNAs (herein referred to as -Chol-3′), an appropriately modified solid support is used for RNA synthesis. The modified solid support is prepared as follows:

Diethyl-2-azabutane-1,4-dicarboxylate AA

A 4.7 M aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (50 mL) is added into a stirred, ice-cooled solution of ethyl glycinate hydrochloride (32.19 g, 0.23 mole) in water (50 mL). Then, ethyl acrylate (23.1 g, 0.23 mole) is added and the mixture is stirred at room temperature until completion of the reaction is ascertained by TLC. After 19 h the solution is partitioned with dichloromethane (3×100 mL). The organic layer is dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and evaporated. The residue is distilled to afford AA (28.8 g, 61%).

3-{Ethoxycarbonylmethyl-[6-(9H-fluoren-9-ylmethoxycarbonyl-amino)-hexanoyl]-amino}-propionic acid ethyl ester AB

Fmoc-6-amino-hexanoic acid (9.12 g, 25.83 mmol) is dissolved in dichloromethane (50 mL) and cooled with ice. Diisopropylcarbodiimde (3.25 g, 3.99 mL, 25.83 mmol) is added to the solution at 0° C. It is then followed by the addition of Diethyl-azabutane-1,4-dicarboxylate (5 g, 24.6 mmol) and dimethylamino pyridine (0.305 g, 2.5 mmol). The solution is brought to room temperature and stirred further for 6 h. Completion of the reaction is ascertained by TLC. The reaction mixture is concentrated under vacuum and ethyl acetate is added to precipitate diisopropyl urea. The suspension is filtered. The filtrate is washed with 5% aqueous hydrochloric acid, 5% sodium bicarbonate and water. The combined organic layer is dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to give the crude product which is purified by column chromatography (50% EtOAC/Hexanes) to yield 11.87 g (88%) of AB.

3-[(6-Amino-hexanoyl)-ethoxycarbonylmethyl-amino]-propionic acid ethyl ester AC

3-{Ethoxycarbonylmethyl-[6-(9H-fluoren-9-ylmethoxycarbonylamino)-hexanoyl]-amino}-propionic acid ethyl ester AB (11.5 g, 21.3 mmol) is dissolved in 20% piperidine in dimethylformamide at 0° C. The solution is continued stirring for 1 h. The reaction mixture is concentrated under vacuum, water is added to the residue, and the product is extracted with ethyl acetate. The crude product is purified by conversion into its hydrochloride salt.

3-({6-[17-(1,5-Dimethyl-hexyl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17-tetradecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-yloxycarbonylamino]-hexanoyl}ethoxycarbonylmethyl-amino)-propionic acid ethyl ester AD

The hydrochloride salt of 3-[(6-Amino-hexanoyl)-ethoxycarbonylmethyl-amino]-propionic acid ethyl ester AC (4.7 g, 14.8 mmol) is taken up in dichloromethane. The suspension is cooled to 0° C. on ice. To the suspension diisopropylethylamine (3.87 g, 5.2 mL, 30 mmol) is added. To the resulting solution cholesteryl chloroformate (6.675 g, 14.8 mmol) is added. The reaction mixture is stirred overnight. The reaction mixture is diluted with dichloromethane and ished with 10% hydrochloric acid. The product is purified by flash chromatography (10.3 g, 92%).

1-{6-[17-(1,5-Dimethyl-hexyl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17-tetradecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-yloxycarbonylamino]-hexanoyl}-4-oxo-pyrrolidine-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester AE

Potassium t-butoxide (1.1 g, 9.8 mmol) is slurried in 30 mL of dry toluene. The mixture is cooled to 0° C. on ice and 5 g (6.6 mmol) of diester AD is added slowly with stirring within 20 mins. The temperature is kept below 5° C. during the addition. The stirring is continued for 30 mins at 0° C. and 1 mL of glacial acetic acid is added, immediately followed by 4 g of NaH₂PO₄.H₂O in 40 mL of water The resultant mixture is extracted twice with 100 mL of dichloromethane each and the combined organic extracts are washed twice with 10 mL of phosphate buffer each, dried, and evaporated to dryness. The residue is dissolved in 60 mL of toluene, cooled to 0° C. and extracted with three 50 mL portions of cold pH 9.5 carbonate buffer. The aqueous extracts are adjusted to pH 3 with phosphoric acid, and extracted with five 40 mL portions of chloroform which are combined, dried and evaporated to dryness. The residue is purified by column chromatography using 25% ethylacetate/hexane to afford 1.9 g of b-ketoester (39%).

[6-(3-Hydroxy-4-hydroxymethyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-6-oxo-hexyl]-carbamic acid 17-(1,5-dimethyl-hexyl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17-tetradecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-yl ester AF

Methanol (2 mL) is added dropwise over a period of 1 h to a refluxing mixture of b-ketoester AE (1.5 g, 2.2 mmol) and sodium borohydride (0.226 g, 6 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (10 mL). Stirring is continued at reflux temperature for 1 h. After cooling to room temperature, 1 N HCl (12.5 mL) is added, the mixture is extracted with ethylacetate (3×40 mL). The combined ethylacetate layer is dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated under vacuum to yield the product which is purified by column chromatography (10% MeOH/CHCl₃) (89%).

(6-{3-[Bis-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-phenyl-methoxymethyl]-4-hydroxy-pyrrolidin-1-yl}-6-oxo-hexyl)-carbamic acid 17-(1,5-dimethyl-hexyl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17-tetradecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-yl ester AG

Diol AF (1.25 gm 1.994 mmol) is dried by evaporating with pyridine (2×5 mL) in vacuo. Anhydrous pyridine (10 mL) and 4,4′-dimethoxytritylchloride (0.724 g, 2.13 mmol) are added with stirring. The reaction is carried out at room temperature overnight. The reaction is quenched by the addition of methanol. The reaction mixture is concentrated under vacuum and to the residue dichloromethane (50 mL) is added. The organic layer is washed with 1M aqueous sodium bicarbonate. The organic layer is dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated. The residual pyridine is removed by evaporating with toluene. The crude product is purified by column chromatography (2% MeOH/Chloroform, Rf=0.5 in 5% MeOH/CHCl₃) (1.75 g, 95%).

Succinic acid mono-(4-[bis-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-phenyl-methoxymethyl]-1-{6-[17-(1,5-dimethyl-hexyl)-10,13-dimethyl 2,3,4,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17-tetradecahydro-1H cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-yloxycarbonylamino]-hexanoyl}-pyrrolidin-3-yl)ester AH

Compound AG (1.0 g, 1.05 mmol) is mixed with succinic anhydride (0.150 g, 1.5 mmol) and DMAP (0.073 g, 0.6 mmol) and dried in a vacuum at 40° C. overnight. The mixture is dissolved in anhydrous dichloroethane (3 mL), triethylamine (0.318 g, 0.440 mL, 3.15 mmol) is added and the solution is stirred at room temperature under argon atmosphere for 16 h. It is then diluted with dichloromethane (40 mL) and washed with ice cold aqueous citric acid (5 wt %, 30 mL) and water (2×20 mL). The organic phase is dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated to dryness. The residue is used as such for the next step.

Cholesterol Derivatised CPG AI

Succinate AH (0.254 g, 0.242 mmol) is dissolved in a mixture of dichloromethane/acetonitrile (3:2, 3 mL). To that solution DMAP (0.0296 g, 0.242 mmol) in acetonitrile (1.25 mL), 2,2′-Dithio-bis(5-nitropyridine) (0.075 g, 0.242 mmol) in acetonitrile/dichloroethane (3:1, 1.25 mL) are added successively. To the resulting solution triphenylphosphine (0.064 g, 0.242 mmol) in acetonitrile (0.6 ml) is added. The reaction mixture turned bright orange in color. The solution is agitated briefly using a wrist-action shaker (5 mins). Long chain alkyl amine-CPG (LCAA-CPG) (1.5 g, 61 mM) is added. The suspension is agitated for 2 h. The CPG is filtered through a sintered funnel and washed with acetonitrile, dichloromethane and ether successively. Unreacted amino groups are masked using acetic anhydride/pyridine. The achieved loading of the CPG is measured by taking UV measurement (37 mM/g).

The synthesis of siRNAs bearing a 5′-12-dodecanoic acid bisdecylamide group (herein referred to as “5′-C32-”) or a 5′-cholesteryl derivative group (herein referred to as “5′-Chol-”) is performed as described in WO 2004/065601, except that, for the cholesteryl derivative, the oxidation step is performed using the Beaucage reagent in order to introduce a phosphorothioate linkage at the 5′-end of the nucleic acid oligomer.

Nucleic acid sequences are represented below using standard nomenclature, and specifically the abbreviations of Table 1.

TABLE 1 Abbreviations of nucleotide monomers used in nucleic acid sequence representation. It will be understood that these monomers, when present in an oligonucleotide, are mutually linked by 5′-3′-phosphodiester bonds. Abbreviation Nucleotide(s) A adenosine C cytidine G guanosine T thymidine U uridine N any nucleotide (G, A, C, or T) a 2′-O-methyladenosine c 2′-O-methylcytidine g 2′-O-methylguanosine u 2′-O-methyluridine sT phosphorothioate linkage

Example 2 ΔEGFR Enhances Tumorigenicity of wt EGFR Over-Expressing Cells after Subcutaneous Injection into Nude Mice

U87MG (U87Par) cells were engineered to over-express wtEGFR (U87wt), mutant EGFR (de 2-7EGFR, deltaEGFR, ΔEGFR or EGFRvIII) (U87Δ) or the kinase-deficient ΔEGFR (U87ΔK). Cell lines that were mixed with U87wt were engineered to express the LacZ gene and so could be distinguished by X-Gal staining. Cell populations expressing equivalent levels of over-expressed receptors were selected by FACS. 1×10⁶ U87wt cells (U87wt 100%), or these cells mixed with U87Par, U87ΔK or U87Δ in ratios 90-10% or 99-1%, were injected subcutaneously into the right flank of 4 to 5 weeks-old female athymic nude mice and tumor volume was measured periodically. Tumor growth kinetics (FIG. 1A) and tumor volume at the end of the experiment (FIG. 1B) were measured.

A strong tumor growth enhancement was observed when U87wt cells were co-injected with U87Δ at either 90-10% or 99-1% ratios. This tumor potentiation was not observed when U87wt cells were injected together with U87Par or U87ΔK, corroborating our hypothesis that deltaEGFR induces enhanced proliferation, and that the enhanced proliferation is dependent on the kinase activation of deltaEGFR. Tumor volumes at day 21 after injection of U87wt+U87delta cells were significantly bigger than the theoretical volume of the sum of two different population volumes.

Example 3 deltaEGFR Enhanced Tumorigenicity of wtEGFR Over-Expressing U87 (A) and Ink4/Arf^(−/−) Murine Astrocyte Cells (B)

0.5×10⁶ cells (100%) were injected intracranially into nude mice using a guide-screw system as described by Lal S. et al. (J Neurosurg 92(2):326-333, 2000). Time matched mice were sacrificed and brains were removed, fixed in 4% PFA and embedded in OCT. H&E stain was performed on 6 μm cryo-sections in order to compare tumor size between U87wt, U87Δ and mixtures 90-10% or 99-1% of U87wt and U87Δ, respectively. Similar to the results in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a strong tumor growth potentiation was observed when U87wt cells were mixed with U87Δ. This effect was more evident when injections were performed with 99% U87wt with 1% U87Δ (FIG. 2A). No tumor enhancement was observed when U87wt cells were mixed with U87Par or U87ΔK, confirming the role of catalytically active ΔEGFR in the tumorigenic growth promotion of glioma cells expressing wtEGFR. These results indicated that U87Δ not only can enhance heterogeneous tumor growth subcutaneously, but also intracranially.

To confirm that these results were not cell line specific, the trans-proliferation model was further tested with murine Ink4/Arf^(−/−) astrocytes engineered to over-express wt and deltaEGFR. Previously it had been shown that Ink4/Arf^(−/−), deltaEGFR astrocytes are tumorigenic upon intracranial injection in nude mice. However Ink4/Arf^(−/−), wtEGFR astrocytes require the introduction of EGF to elicit this effect (Bachoo et al., Cancer Cell 1:269-77, 2002). It was therefore hypothesized that deltaEGFR over-expressing astrocytes might be able to promote the tumorigenicity of wtEGFR over-expressing astrocytes if the cells were co-injected. In order to demonstrate the presence of wtEGFR astrocytes within the tumor, these cells were tagged with nuclear GFP and injected either alone or mixed with deltaEGFR over-expressing astrocytes (FIG. 2B). As shown in the upper panel of FIG. 2B, tumor size at day 22 after injection was significantly bigger in mice co-injected with 90% wtEGFR and 10% deltaEGFR Ink4/Arf^(−/−) murine astrocytes than with 10% of deltaEGFR Ink4/Arf^(−/−) astrocytes alone. It was also confirmed that wtEGFR astrocytes did not form tumors. These results not only demonstrated that there was tumor growth potentiation when wtEGFR astrocytes were mixed with deltaEGFR astrocytes, but also showed the presence of wtEGFR astrocytes within the tumor by immunofluorescence (GFP IF) (FIG. 2B, lower panel). Interestingly, a small number of GFP positive cells were detected in mice injected with wtEGFR astrocytes only, which may represent dormant cells that could be activated upon activation of the receptor.

Example 4 Analysis of Tumor Composition by X-Gal Staining and Flow Cytometry

To determine the relative cell type composition of the mixed U87 xenografts, X-Gal staining was performed to detect LacZ-tagged U87delta cells. Representative images of X-Gal stained tumors obtained after injection of admixed U87wt and U87delta cells show a significant number of U87delta cells (LacZ positive) among U87wt cells (LacZ negative). Specifically, the large tumors that resulted from an initial inoculum ratio of 90% U87wt combined with 10% U87delta cells resulted in a final composition of 51.5% U87wt and 48.5% U87delta cells, while tumors from mice injected with 99% U87wt plus 1% U87delta were composed of 58.7% U87wt and a 41.3% U87delta cells. In contrast, the small tumors formed by the mixture of U87wt with U87ΔK or U87Parental cells were predominantly composed of U87wt cells (FIG. 3A). Notably, the absolute tumor volume attributable to U87 wt cells was approximately 3-10-fold greater in tumors resulting from an injection of U87wt plus U87delta cells than in tumors resulting from an injection of U87wt cells alone, or U87wt with U87ΔK or U87Parental cells, demonstrating the dramatic growth effect of U87Δ cells on U87wt cells within the same tumor.

To more accurately quantify tumor composition, differential fluorescence activated cell sorting analysis was performed on single cell suspensions of subcutaneous xenografted mixed tumors stained with two different antibodies against EGFR, one antibody that recognizes the wt and mutant receptor (Ab-1) and another antibody that only recognizes the wt receptor (Ab-5). Using this approach, tumors generated 24 days post injection of 90% U87wt plus 10% U87delta cells were shown to consist of 52.8±17.3% (mean±SD) wt and 47.2±17.3% deltaEGF receptors (FIG. 3B), confirming the LacZ staining results. This further illustrates that DEGFR-expressing cells do not exert an overwhelmingly dominant growth advantage in heterogeneous tumors containing amplified levels of wtEGFR, but rather stimulate the latter to grow more robustly.

Example 5 Treatment of U87wt Cells with U87delta Conditioned Media (CM) Activates EGFR

To analyze the effect of deltaEGFR cells on wtEGFR activation, conditioned media was collected from 48 h-starved deltaEGFR cells and used to stimulate U87wt cells, also starved 48 h. Western blot analysis of EGFR activation and known signaling molecules downstream of the receptor was performed on lysates of U87wt cells stimulated for 15 minutes with serial dilutions of U87delta CM, negative control U87Par CM or positive control EGF ligand. Membranes were interrogated with anti-pTyr monoclonal antibody (4G10) to check the activation of the EGFR, and with phospho-specific antibodies directed to the major known transduction proteins involved in tumorigenesis in GBMs (glioblastoma multiformes): Akt, ERK1/2 (a.k.a., MAPK) and STAT3.

FIG. 4 shows that these pathways were activated in response to the U87Δ CM stimulation, as shown by the increase of the phosphorylated forms of those proteins in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, CM from U87Par cells failed to activate EGFR or any of these pathways. Notably the level of phosphorylation of these proteins, except EGFR, is at the same extent for the undiluted conditioned medium and the high dose of EGF that was used, indicating that activation of EGFR downstream signaling is efficiently mimicked by factors secreted from U87Δ. Activation of these pathways was also elicited in part by abundant IL-6 produced and secreted by the deltaEGFR-expressing cells.

Similarly, wtEGFR phosphorylation was observed to be significantly higher (p<0.05) in mixed tumors than in tumors obtained after injection of U87wt alone (0.576±0.166 vs 0.19±0.007), while no differences in phosphorylation were detected for ΔEGFR in the mixed tumors compared to the tumors generated from injection of U87Δ alone (1.215±0.225 vs 1.179±0.260).

To determine whether the activation of these intracellular pathways is dependent on the kinase activity of EGFR, the effect of Δ CM in the presence of the EGFR inhibitor AG1478 was analyzed. Pre-treating U87wt cells with this inhibitor for 30 minutes prior to Δ CM stimulation, completely abolished the activation of EGFR. Moreover, it was also observed that activation of Akt and ERK was maintained at the level of untreated cells. Conversely, the activation of STAT3 caused by exposure to the Δ CM was not affected by blocking the activity of EGFR with this inhibitor. These results suggested that at least two (or more) soluble factors exist in the Δ CM, producing different effects on target U87wt cells: (i) activation of EGFR and its intracellular signaling surrogates (Akt, ERK), via receptor kinase activity, and (ii) STAT3 activation independent of EGFR stimulation.

Example 6 wtEGFR Activation is not Caused by Any of its Natural Ligands

The results obtained with Δ CM would suggested that U87Δ cells secrete one or more factors responsible for EGFR activation in wtEGFR cells. In order to test whether these were known ligands for the EGFR, neutralization using an EGFR ligand trap was performed. This recombinant ligand-binding protein consisted of the extracellular portion of the EGFR bound to a human Fc fragment and bound the known EGFR ligands with high affinity. Pre-incubation of recombinant EGF with 10 μg/ml of the ligand trap reduced the activation of EGFR as well as Akt and ERK, however, no effect on either EGFR or these two downstream pathways was observed when Δ CM was pretreated with the ligand trap. As expected, STAT3 activation was not affected in the presence of the ligand trap. To further demonstrate that EGFR ligands were not involved in the transactivation of U87wt by Δ CM, ELISA was used to quantify the concentrations of EGF, TGF-α, amphiregulin, HB-EGF and betacellulin in U87Δ CM as well as in control U87Parental, U87wt and U87ΔK CM. All of these tested EGFR ligands were either undetectable or showed no significant increase in expression in A CM when compared to the conditioned media from the other cell lines. Given the possibility that active soluble EGFR ligands may be released from the surface of the target cells by proteolytic cleavage of membrane-anchored precursors (Sanderson et al., 2006), Δ CM was tested for the ability to induce the release of EGFR ligands expressed on the surface of U87wt cells. U87wt cells were stimulated with serum-free medium, recombinant EGF and U87Δ CM, and then these media were collected to analyze by ELISA changes in EGFR ligand concentration after the stimulation. None of the tested ligands showed any significant change in concentration, indicating that EGFR is not stimulated by soluble factors shed from the membrane of wtEGFR cells. Confirmation of these results was achieved by incubation of Δ CM with neutralizing antibodies against each EGFR ligand; these also failed to block the ability of the CM to activate EGFR, while each antibody tested was able to block the activity of the respective recombinant ligand. In summary, U87Δ cells do not produce a detectable EGF family ligand activity, pointing to other factors driving inter-cellular activation of wtEGFR.

Example 7 IL-6 is Over-Expressed in U87delta Cells and in deltaEGFR-Positive GBM Clinical Samples

To identify soluble factors expressed by U87Δ cells that could potentially mediate intercellular communication with and promote the proliferation of U87wt cells, a cytokine array was used to qualitatively detect 79 human cytokines and growth factors in supernatants of cultured cells. With this approach, IL-6 was found to be significantly upregulated in U87Δ cells compared to the other U87 cell lines. To further quantify IL-6 upregulation in U87Δ CM, an ELISA assay was performed on supernatants from the different U87 cell lines collected after 48 hours starvation. The values obtained (pg/ml/4×105 cells) illustrate a 13-fold increase of IL-6 secretion for U87Δ (3813±2) compared to U87Parental cells (299±25), while no significant increase was detected with U87wt (567±85) or U87ΔK (355±75) CM.

Nineteen GBM tumor samples, U87 cell lines and one normal brain sample were analyzed for ΔEGFR and IL-6 RNA expression by real time PCR. As expected, U87Δ demonstrated a significant higher (p<0.001) expression of IL-6, while no significant differences in IL-6 expression were observed between the rest of U87 cell lines. Notably, we observed a very significant correlation between ΔEGFR and IL-6 expression (p=0.0034) in the GBM tumor samples. All tumor samples that presented ΔEGFR expression also showed high IL-6 expression (8/8), while only three tumors that did not show ΔEGFR expression over-expressed IL-6 (3/11).

Example 8 siRNAs Specific for deltaEGFR or wtEGFR Reduced Tumor Growth after Subcutaneous Injection of Ex Vivo Transfected Cells

The present inventors observed that in vitro treatment of cells expressing wtEGFR with conditioned media from cells overexpressing deltaEGFR resulted in activation of STAT3, Akt, Erk1/2 and wtEGFR. In vivo tumor growth potentiation was also observed when wtEGFR overexpressing cells were mixed with deltaEGFR expressing cells, but not when those cells were mixed with cells with normal levels of wtEGFR or overexpressing a dead kinase version of deltaEGFR. Based on these observations, siRNA technology was used to knock-down either wt or deltaEGFR to assess the effect of specific receptor ablation on tumorigenicity and contribution to heterogeneity. As shown below, siRNAs specific for deltaEGFR or wtEGFR were able to reduce tumor growth after subcutaneous injection of ex vivo transfected cells.

In Vitro siRNA Screening:

siRNAs non-stabilized (Table 2) and stabilized (Table 3), designed to be specific (i) to wtEGFR, (ii) to deltaEGFR, and (iii) to both receptors, were synthesized. U87-wtEGFR (Nagane et al, Cancer Research, 56: 5079-5086, 1996) and U87-deltaEGFR (Nishikawa et al, PNAS, 91: 7727-7731, 1994) cells were used as test cell lines to assess the specificity of these siRNA molecules. The term “deltaEGFR,” as used in this example, refers to an EGFR gene construct deleted for exons 2-7. U87-deltaEGFR cells are recombinant cells expressing an EGFR gene deleted for exons 2-7 as described in Nishikawa et al. (1994). U87-wtEGFR cells are recombinant cells expressing a wtEGFR gene as described in Nishikawa et al. (1994).

Cells were seeded in 24 well plates at 48,000 cells per well in DMEM medium (Cellgro) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and L-Glutamine. The following day, siRNAs were transfected at 100 nM, 10 nM and 1 nM concentrations using Lipofectamine™ 2000 (Invitrogen) and OptiMEM (Gibco). Twenty four hours after transfection, the medium was changed to DMEM supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, penicillin/streptomycin and L-Glutamine.

Cells non-transfected as well as transfected with a siRNA specific for GFP or Luciferase protein were included as negative controls.

Three days after transfection, protein lysates were prepared using RIPA buffer (150 mM NaCl, 50 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, 1 mM EDTA, 1% NP-40, 0.1% SDS and 0.5% sodium deoxycholate) supplemented with protease inhibitors (Roche) and 5 μg of protein were resolved on 12% NuPAGE Bis-Tris acrylamide gels (Invitrogen). Gels were blotted onto nitrocellulose membranes, blocked with 5% milk in TBS-Tween and probed with anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody, C13, which recognizes both wt and mutant EGFR (BD). Membrane bound C13 antibody was detected with HRP-conjugated anti-mouse IgG (Dako) followed by chemiluminescence. Nitrocellulose membranes were also probed with anti-actin antibody as a positive control for protein loading.

In Vitro Specificity Test:

Specificity for the receptor for which each siRNA candidate was designed was assessed by transfecting siRNAs at 100 nM dose in the U87 cell line that expresses the other receptor. Expression knock-down was assessed by western blot as previously described.

To exclude that any reduction in the cytokine synthesis was caused by off-target effects of the siRNAs, the concentration of both IL-6 and IL-8 was measured in the samples where an siRNA was found to have a strong effect on the expression of IL-6, and compared to non-transfected cells as well as cells transfected with an siRNA against GFP or Luciferase

Cells non-transfected as well as transfected with an siRNA against GFP or Luciferase protein were included as negative controls.

In Vitro Dose-Response Analysis:

siRNAs determined to be specific and able to knock-down the expression of the receptor for which they were designed were tested again in U87-deltaEGFR and U87-wtEGFR to determine the minimal effective dose to achieve receptor expression knock-down. Cells were seeded in 24 well plates at 48,000 cells per well and siRNAs were transfected the following day at 100, 25, 5 and 1 nM concentrations using Lipofectamine™ 2000. Twenty four hours after transfection, medium was changed and two days after protein lysates were obtained as described previously. Cells non-transfected as well as transfected with a siRNA against GFP or Luciferase protein were included as negative controls. Receptor expression was analyzed by western blot as described previously.

In Vitro Durability Test:

siRNAs determined to be robust in the ablation of deltaEGFR or wtEGFR expression, when transfected at low concentration, were tested for suppression durability using U87-deltaEGFR and U87-wtEGFR cell lines.

Cells were seeded in 24 well plates at 48,000 cells per well and siRNAs were transfected the following day at 25 nM concentration using Lipofectamine™ 2000. Protein lysates were obtained using RIPA buffer supplemented with protease inhibitors at days 3, 5, 7, 10, 14 and 17 post-transfection. Cells non-transfected as well as transfected with a siRNA against GFP or Luciferase protein were included as negative controls. Receptor expression was analyzed by western blot as described previously.

Ex Vivo Experiments:

To determine the effect of specific receptor knock-down on tumorigenicity, cells were transfected and then injected subcutaneously into nude mice.

Briefly, 25 cm² plates were seeded with 1.3×10⁶ cells and one day after they were transfected with 25 nM or 100 nM siRNA using Lipofectamine™ 2000. The following day, the medium was changed and cells were split into larger dishes when they were almost confluent.

Cells non-transfected as well as transfected with a siRNA against GFP or Luciferase protein were included as negative controls.

One million U87-wtEGFR or 0.5×10⁶ U87-deltaEGFR transfected cells were resuspended in 100 μl PBS. Cells were injected subcutaneously into the right flank of Nu/Nu mice using a 1 ml syringe with a 26G needle. Tumor volume was measured starting at day 5 after injection and was calculated using the formula 0.5×L×W². Mice were euthanized when tumor volume reached 1500 mm³.

Protein lysates were prepared from the remaining cells of the injection using RIPA buffer supplemented with protease inhibitors. Receptor expression was analyzed by western blot as described previously.

Results

In Vitro siRNA Screening (Table 4):

Non-Stabilized siRNAs:

DeltaEGFR-specific siRNAs: Western blot analysis demonstrated that 7 of 8 deltaEGFR-specific siRNAs were capable of complete elimination of the mutant receptor expressed in U87-deltaEGFR cells when tested at 100 nM (AL-DP-6901-6907) while three (AL-DP-6902, -6903, -6906) were able to effect a modest receptor reduction as low as 1 nM concentration (Table 4 and FIG. 4A). One siRNA, AL-DP-6908, had no effect. To show specificity for the mutant receptor, each deltaEGFR-specific siRNA was tested against U87-wtEGFR cells. Only one of the siRNAs (AL-DP-6906) that reduced deltaEGFR expression was also able to reduce wtEGFR expression.

wtEGFR-specific siRNAs: As above, western blot analysis was used to demonstrate that 5 of 8 wtEGFR-specific siRNAs were capable of complete elimination of the wt receptor expressed in U87-wtEGFR cells when tested at 100 nM (AL-DP-6918-6921 and -6923), while two (AL-DP-6919 and -6920) were able to effect a modest receptor reduction as low as 1 nM concentration (Table 4 and FIG. 5B). Three siRNAs (AL-DP-6917, -6922, and -6924) had little or no effect. To show specificity for the wt receptor, each active wtEGFR-specific siRNA (AL-DP-6918-6921 and -6923) was tested against U87-deltaEGFR cells with none showing reduction of the mutant receptor.

Wt and deltaEGFR-specific siRNAs: As above, western blot analysis was used to demonstrate the specificity of 8 siRNAs designed to knock-down the expression of both wt and deltaEGFR. Of this series, three siRNAs were able to simultaneously knock-down both receptors (AL-DP-6913, -6915, and -6916) albeit the effect was stronger for suppressing deltaEGFR (Table 4 and FIG. 5C).

In FIGS. 5A-5C, two samples were run for each treatment condition. Membranes were blotted with c13 antibody to detect EGFR and beta-actin antibody to confirm equivalent loading between lanes.

Stabilized siRNAs:

DeltaEGFR-specific siRNAs: Western blot analysis demonstrated that 8 of 8 deltaEGFR-specific siRNAs were capable of reducing mutant receptor expression in U87-deltaEGFR cells when tested at 25 nM (Table 4 and FIGS. 6A-B). To show specificity for the mutant receptor, deltaEGFR-specific siRNAs (AD-15416, AD-15417, AD-13375, AD-15418) were tested against U87-wtEGFR cells. None of siRNAs tested resulted in reduced wtEGFR expression.

wtEGFR-specific siRNAs: Western blot analysis demonstrated that 4 of 8 wtEGFR-specific siRNAs strongly suppress wtEGFR protein expression (AD-16177, AD-16178, AD-16179 and AD-13377), while 2 of these 8 siRNAs were able to moderately reduce wtEGFR protein expression (AD-13376 and AD-13378) (Table 4 and FIG. 6C). Two of the 8 siRNAs had little or no effect on wtEGFR protein levels (AD-16180 and AD-16181).

In FIGS. 6A-6C, two samples were run for each treatment condition. Membranes were blotted with c13 antibody to detect EGFR and beta-actin antibody to confirm equivalent loading between lanes.

In Vitro Dose-Response Analysis:

Non-Stabilized siRNAs:

DeltaEGFR-specific siRNAs: Western blot analysis demonstrate that the four deltaEGFR-specific siRNAs tested (AL-DP-6901-6903, and -6905) were capable of complete elimination of the mutant receptor expressed in U87-deltaEGFR cells when transfected at 25 nM, nearly complete elimination at 5 nM and partial elimination at 1 nM (FIG. 7A).

wtEGFR-specific siRNAs: As above, western blot analysis was used to demonstrate that 4 of 4 wtEGFR-specific siRNAs (AL-DP-6918-6921) were capable to varying degrees of wt receptor elimination in U87-wtEGFR cells (FIG. 7B).

Wt and deltaEGFR-specific siRNAs: AL-DP-6913 and AL-DP-6916 were able to suppress expression of both wt and deltaEGFR protein in a dose-dependent manner (FIGS. 7A-B).

In FIGS. 7A and 7B, two samples were run for each treatment condition. Membranes were blotted with c13 antibody to detect EGFR.

In Vitro Durability Test:

Non-Stabilized siRNAs:

DeltaEGFR-specific siRNAs: Western blot analysis demonstrated that 4 of 4 deltaEGFR-specific siRNAs analyzed (AL-DP-6901, AL-DP-6902, AL-DP-6903, AL-DP-6905) were capable of complete elimination of mutant receptor expression in U87-deltaEGFR cells at 7 days after siRNA transfection, while siRNA AL-DP-6905 was capable of durable suppression as far as 10 days after siRNA transfection (FIG. 8A).

wtEGFR-specific siRNAs: As above, western blot analysis was used to demonstrate that 2 of 2 wtEGFR-specific siRNAs analyzed (AL-DP-6920, AL-DP-6921) were capable of complete wt receptor expression elimination in U87-wtEGFR cells out to 7 days after siRNA transfection; however, for both siRNAs, receptor levels were restored to control levels by 10 days post transfection (FIG. 8B).

Stabilized siRNAs:

DeltaEGFR-specific siRNAs: Western blot analysis demonstrated that 3 of 5 deltaEGFR-specific siRNAs analyzed (AD-15416, AD15417, AD-13374, AD-13375, AD-15418) were capable of complete elimination of mutant receptor expression in U87-deltaEGFR cells 5 days post transfection, while siRNA AD-15416 was capable of durable and complete suppression as far as 7 days post transfection (FIG. 8C). Receptor expression levels were completely restored by day 12 post transfection for all stabilized siRNAs tested.

wtEGFR-specific siRNAs: As above, western blot analysis was used to demonstrate that AD-13377 wtEGFR-specific siRNA was capable of complete wt receptor protein elimination in U87-wtEGFR cells out to 7 days after transfection (FIG. 8D). However, receptor levels were restored to control levels by 10 days post transfection.

Ex Vivo Experiments:

Non-Stabilized siRNAs:

DeltaEGFR-specific siRNAs: U87-deltaEGFR cells were transfected with 100 nM siRNA and injected subcutaneously into nude mice. Treatment with siRNAs AL-DP-6901 and AL-DP-6902 (FIG. 9B) resulted in a substantial reduction of U87-deltaEGFR tumor growth. As a negative control, cells non transfected or transfected with an irrelevant GFP siRNA were included in the study (FIG. 9B). In both of these groups, substantial tumor growth occurred.

wtEGFR-specific siRNAs: U87-wtEGFR cells were transfected with 25 nM siRNA concentration and injected subcutaneously into nude mice. Treatment with siRNAs AL-DP-6920 and AL-DP-6921 (FIG. 9A) resulted in ablation of U87-wtEGFR tumor growth. As a negative control, cells non transfected or transfected with an irrelevant GFP siRNA were included in the study (FIG. 9A). In both of these groups, substantial tumor growth occurred.

In FIGS. 9A and 9B, each treatment group included six animals.

U87delta cells were injected into nude mice and at days 13 (approximately 160 mm³) and 16.5 mg of deltaEGFR siRNA#1 or irrelevant siRNA (siRNA luc) were administrated intratumorally using JetPei (Polyplus) following the manufacturer's instructions followed by the monitoring of tumor growth as above. These initial results illustrate modest tumor reduction can be achieved in vivo with siRNAs targeting deltaEGFR FIGS. 10A and 10B.

TABLE 2 Sequences of dsRNAs tested for deltaEGFR and wtEGFR gene expression inhibiting activity Target position of 5′ base of sense strand SEQ SEQ (see FIGS. ID Sense ID Antisense Duplex Name 21A and 21B) Specificity NO: strand sequence (5′-3′) NO: strand sequence (5′-3′) AL-DP-6901 320 deltaEGFR  2 UGGAGGAAAAGAAAGGUAATT  3 UUACCUUUCUUUUCCUCCATT AL-DP-6902 321 deltaEGFR  4 GGAGGAAAAGAAAGGUAAUTT  5 AUUACCUUUCUUUUCCUCCTT AL-DP-6903 322 deltaEGFR  6 GAGGAAAAGAAAGGUAAUUTT  7 AAUUACCUUUCUUUUCCUCTT AL-DP-6904 319 deltaEGFR  8 CUGGAGGAAAAGAAAGGUATT  9 UACCUUUCUUUUCCUCCAGTT AL-DP-6905 323 deltaEGFR 10 AGGAAAAGAAAGGUAAUUATT 11 UAAUUACCUUUCUUUUCCUTT AL-DP-6906 324 deltaEGFR 12 GGAAAAGAAAGGUAAUUAUTT 13 AUAAUUACCUUUCUUUUCCTT AL-DP-6907 325 deltaEGFR 14 GAAAGGUAAUUAUGUGGUGTT 15 CACCACAUAAUUACCUUUCTT AL-DP-6908 329 deltaEGFR 16 AGAAAGGUAAUUAUGUGGUTT 17 ACCACAUAAUUACCUUUCUTT AL-DP-6909 40 deltaEGFR 18 ACGGUGUGAGCGCCCGACGTT 19 CGUCGGGCGCUCACACCGUTT and wtEGFR AL-DP-6910 1150 deltaEGFR 20 ACAGAUCACGGCUCGUGCGTT 21 CGCACGAGCCGUGAUCUGUTT and wtEGFR AL-DP-6911 1156 deltaEGFR 22 CACGGCUCGUGCGUCCGAGTT 23 CUCGGACGCACGAGCCGUGTT and wtEGFR AL-DP-6912 117 deltaEGFR 24 CGACAGGCCACCUCGUCGGTT 25 CCGACGAGGUGGCCUGUCGTT and wtEGFR AL-DP-6913 1147 deltaEGFR 26 GUGACAGAUCACGGCUCGUTT 27 ACGAGCCGUGAUCUGUCACTT and wtEGFR AL-DP-6914 129 deltaEGFR 28 UCGUCGGCGUCCGCCCGAGTT 29 CUCGGGCGGACGCCGACGATT and wtEGFR AL-DP-6915 197 deltaEGFR 30 CCGUCCAGUAUUGAUCGGGTT 31 CCCGAUCAAUACUGGACGGTT and wtEGFR AL-DP-6916 1146 deltaEGFR 32 GGUGACAGAUCACGGCUCGTT 33 CGAGCCGUGAUCUGUCACCTT and wtEGFR AL-DP-6917 997 wtEGFR 34 UGCCGCAAAUUCCGAGACGTT 35 CGUCUCGGAAUUUGCGGCATT AL-DP-6918 683 wtEGFR 36 GCGCCGUGCGGUUCAGCAATT 37 UUGCUGAACCGCACGGCGCTT AL-DP-6919 999 wtEGFR 38 CCGCAAAUUCCGAGACGAATT 39 UUCGUCUCGGAAUUUGCGGTT AL-DP-6920 337 wtEGFR 40 UGCCAAGGCACGAGUAACATT 41 UGUUACUCGUGCCUUGGCATT AL-DP-6921 569 wtEGFR 42 GAGGAAAUAUGUACUACGATT 43 UCGUAGUACAUAUUUCCUCTT AL-DP-6922 668 wtEGFR 44 AGGAAAUCCUGCAUGGCGCTT 45 GCGCCAUGCAGGAUUUCCUTT AL-DP-6923 677 wtEGFR 46 UGCAUGGCGCCGUGCGGUUTT 47 AACCGCACGGCGCCAUGCATT AL-DP-6924 732 wtEGFR 48 CCAGUGGCGGGACAUAGUCTT 49 GACUAUGUCCCGCCACUGGTT

TABLE 3 Sequences of dsRNAs with stabilizing modifications tested for deltaEGFR and wtEGFR gene expression inhibiting activity Target position of 5′ base of sense strand (see FIGS. SEQ Sense SEQ Antisense Duplex name 21A and 21B) ID NO: strand sequence (5′-3′) ID NO: strand sequence (5′-3′) AD-15416 320 50 uGGAGGAAAAGAAAGGuAATsT 51 UuACCUUUCUUUUCCUCcATsT AD-15417 321 52 GGAGGAAAAGAAAGGuAAuTsT 53 AUuACCUUUCUUUUCCUCCTsT AD-13373 322 54 GAGGAAAAGAAAGGuAAuuTsT 55 AAUuACCUUUCUUUUCCUCTsT AD-13374 319 56 cuGGAGGAAAAGAAAGGuATsT 57 uACCUUUCUUUUCCUCcAGTsT AD-13375 323 58 AGGAAAAGAAAGGuAAuuATsT 59 uAAUuACCUUUCUUUUCCUTsT AD-15418 324 60 GGAAAAGAAAGGuAAuuAuTsT 61 AuAAUuACCUUUCUUUUCCTsT AD-15419 325 62 GAAAGGuAAuuAuGuGGuGTsT 63 cACcAcAuAAUuACCUUUCTsT AD-15420 329 64 AGAAAGGuAAuuAuGuGGuTsT 65 ACcAcAuAAUuACCUUUCUTsT AD-16177 997 66 uGccGcAAAuuccGAGAcGTsT 67 CGUCUCGGAAUUUGCGGcATsT AD-13376 683 68 GcGccGuGcGGuucAGcAATsT 69 UUGCUGAACCGcACGGCGCTsT AD-16178 999 70 ccGcAAAuuccGAGAcGAATsT 71 UUCGUCUCGGAAUUuGCGGTsT AD-16179 337 72 uGccAAGGcAcGAGuAAcATsT 73 UGUuACUCGUGCCUUGGcATsT AD-13377 569 74 GAGGAAAuAuGuAcuAcGATsT 75 UCGuAGuAcAuAUUUCCUCTsT AD-16180 668 76 AGGAAAuccuGcAuGGcGcTsT 77 GCGCcAUGcAGGAUUUCCUTsT AD-13378 677 78 uGcAuGGcGccGuGcGGuuTsT 79 AACCGcACGGCGCcAUGcATsT AD-16181 732 80 ccAGuGGcGGGAcAuAGucTsT 81 GACuAUGUCCCGCcACUGGTsT

TABLE 4 Summary of the western blot results of the knock-down of delta or wtEGFR expression after transfection of non-stabilized or stabilized siRNAs. U87- Unmodified deltaE U87- Durability Modified U87- U87- Durability siRNA Specificity GFR wtEGFR (days) siRNA deltaEGFR wtEGFR (days) AL-DP-6901 deltaEGFR + − 7-10 AD-15416 + − 7-12 AL-DP-6902 deltaEGFR + − 7-10 AD-15417 + − 7-12 AL-DP-6903 deltaEGFR + − 7-10 AD-13373 + x x AL-DP-6904 deltaEGFR + − x AD-13374 + x 5-7  AL-DP-6905 deltaEGFR + − 10-14  AD-13375 + − 5-7  AL-DP-6906 deltaEGFR + + x AD-15418 + − 7-12 AL-DP-6907 deltaEGFR + x x AD-15419 + x x AL-DP-6908 deltaEGFR − x x AD-15420 + x x AL-DP-6909 both +/− + x none na na na AL-DP-6910 both + − x none na na na AL-DP-6911 both − − x none na na na AL-DP-6912 both − − x none na na na AL-DP-6913 both + + 7-10 none na na na AL-DP-6914 both − − x none na na na AL-DP-6915 both + + x none na na na AL-DP-6916 both + + 7-10 none na na na AL-DP-6917 wtEGFR x +/− x AD-16177 − +/− x AL-DP-6918 wtEGFR − + x AD-13376 x +/− x AL-DP-6919 wtEGFR − + x AD-16178 − + x AL-DP-6920 wtEGFR − + 7-10 AD-16179 − + x AL-DP-6921 wtEGFR − + 7-10 AD-13377 − + ≧7 AL-DP-6922 wtEGFR x − x AD-16180 x − x AL-DP-6923 wtEGFR − + x AD-13378 x − x AL-DP-6924 wtEGFR x − x AD-16181 x − x − = no reduction of expression + = reduction of expression +/− = small reduction of expression x = not determined na = not available

Example 9 siRNAs Specific for IL-6 Reduced Tumor Growth In Vivo after Subcutaneous Injection of U87Δ Cells

Methods

In vitro siRNA screening: U87-ΔEGFR (Nishikawa et al, PNAS 91: 7727-7731, 1994) cells over-express the IL-6 cytokine, and the importance of IL-6 secretion was underscored by demonstrating that the in vivo growth of wtEGFR-expressing cells could be enhanced when mixed with parental glioma cells engineered to overexpress IL-6 (see Example 10 below).

To further test the role of IL-6 in enhanced cell proliferation, 24 stabilized siRNAs were designed to be specific to IL-6 (AD-15637 to AD-15660) and were synthesized. The sequences of the siRNAs and their target position on the IL-6 mRNA (GenBank Accession No. NM_(—)000600.2, version Jan. 4, 2009) (FIG. 11) are provided in Table 5.

Cells were seeded in 24 well plates at 48,000 cells per well in DMEM medium (Cellgro) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and L-Glutamine. The following day, siRNAs were transfected at 100 nM using Lipofectamine™ 2000 (Invitrogen™) and Opti-MEM® (Gibco™). Cells non-transfected as well as transfected with an siRNA specific for GFP or Luciferase were included as negative controls. Forty-eight hours after transfection, the medium was changed to DMEM-serum-free supplemented with penicillin/streptomycin and L-Glutamine after washing the cells with serum-free medium. After twenty-four hours of serum-starvation, supernatants were collected, centrifuged to remove cell debris, and either analyzed immediately or frozen at −80° C. Quantification of IL-6/IL-8 in supernatants was assessed by ELISA. Briefly, 96-well plates (MaxiSorp, Nunc) were coated overnight at room temperature with the capture antibody diluted in PBS. The following day, the plates were blocked in blocking buffer composed of PBS containing 1% BSA and 5% sucrose. The standards (recombinant human IL-6 and IL-8) and the samples were diluted in diluent buffer (1×TBS, 0.5% BSA, 0.05% Tween-20) and incubated 2 hours at room temperature. The plates were then washed with PBS 0.05% Tween-20 and incubated with the biotinylated detection antibody and then with streptavidin-HRP (Biosource) both diluted in diluent buffer. The HRP activity was determined by using Tetramethylbenzidine (Sigma) as substrate. The enzymatic reaction was stopped with 1 N sulfuric acid and the absorbance was measured at 450 nm with wavelength correction set to 540 nm using a Tecan Genios Pro microplate reader. The absorbance readings were converted using a four parameter logistic curve.

In vitro specificity test: To exclude that any reduction in the cytokine synthesis was caused by off-target effects of the siRNAs, the concentration of both IL-6 and IL-8 was measured in the samples where an siRNA was found to have a strong effect on the expression of IL-6, and compared to non-transfected cells as well as cells transfected with an siRNA against GFP or Luciferase.

In vitro dose-response analysis: siRNAs determined to be specifically able to knock-down the secretion of IL-6 were tested again in U87-ΔEGFR to determine the minimal effective dose to achieve cytokine secretion knock-down. Cells were seeded in 24 well plates at 48,000 cells per well and siRNAs were transfected the following day at 100, 20, 4 and 0.8 nM concentrations using Lipofectamine™ 2000. Forty-eight hours after transfection the medium was changed to serum-free medium and twenty-four hours later the supernatants were collected and centrifuged as described previously. Cells non-transfected as well as transfected with an siRNA against GFP or Luciferase were included as negative controls. IL-6 or IL-8 secretion was analyzed by ELISA.

In vitro durability test: siRNAs determined to be robust in the ablation of IL-6 secretion, when transfected at low concentration, were tested for suppression durability using U87-ΔEGFR cells. Cells were seeded in 24 well plates at 48,000 cells per well and siRNAs were transfected the following day at 25 nM concentration using Lipofectamine™ 2000. Supernatants were collected at days 3, 7, and 11 or 14 days post-transfection (in each case after 24 hours serum-starvation). Cells non-transfected as well as transfected with an siRNA against GFP or Luciferase were included as negative controls. IL-6 secretion was analyzed by ELISA.

In vitro proliferation test: Cells were seeded in 24 well plates at 48,000 cells per well and siRNAs were transfected the following day at 25 nM concentration using Lipofectamine™ 2000. 48 hours after transfection the cells were trypsinized, counted, and seeded at the same density in larger dishes to allow them to grow. The cell proliferation was evaluated by counting the cells at day 4 and at day 6-8 as indicated. Three independent samples were counted for each treatment/time point.

Ex vivo experiments: To determine the effect of specific IL-6 knock-down on tumorigenicity, U87-ΔEGFR cells were transfected with the different siRNAs (AD-15644 and AD-15660) and then injected subcutaneously into nude mice. Briefly, 1.3×10⁶ cells were seeded in 10 cm plates and one day after they were transfected either with a control siRNA or with a specific siRNA at the concentration of 25 nM with Lipofectamine™ 2000. The following day, the medium was changed and cells were split into larger dishes. Transfected U87-ΔEGFR cells were injected subcutaneously into the right flank of Nu/Nu mice using a 1 ml syringe with a 26G needle. 5×10⁵ cells resuspended in 100 μl of PBS were injected into each mouse. Tumor volume was measured starting at day 5 after injection and was calculated using the formula 0.5×L×W². Mice were euthanized according to our animal protocol when tumor volume reached 1500 mm³.

In vivo siRNA delivery: One million cells of U87-wtEGFR mixed with U87-ΔEGFR in a ratio 90:10% respectively were injected subcutaneously into 4 to 5 weeks-old female nude mice. Treatment of tumors was started after 13 days when the tumor volume reached approximately 80 mm3. JetPEI/siRNA complexes were prepared following manufacturer instructions (Polyplus Transfection, Illkirch, France) in 5% Glucose at N/P ratio of 15 and 70 μl of the complex was injected intratumorally at a dose of 10 μg siRNA/mouse every two days. Tumor volumes were measured every second day from the commencement of siRNA delivery through day 21 of treatment.

Results

In Vitro siRNA Screening (Table 9):

ELISA analysis demonstrated that 20 of 24 siRNAs designed against IL-6 were capable of reducing IL-6 secretion in U87-ΔEGFR cells when tested at 100 nM (Table 9, and FIGS. 12A and 12B). Only siRNAs AD-15647, AD-15651, AD-15654, and AD-15656 were unable to reduce IL-6 secretion in U87-ΔEGFR cells (FIG. 12A). The strongest effect was obtained with AD-15658 (99.09%), and the weakest with AD-15642 (34.1%), with an average 82.4% reduction compared with cells transfected with the control siRNA. IL-8 concentration was tested in the 15 samples (FIG. 12B) where strongest reduction of IL-6 secretion was observed. IL-8 production was significantly reduced in 11 of the analyzed samples. In one case (AD-15641) there was a significant increase in IL-8 secretion. Two siRNAs designed against IL-6 (AD-15644, AD-15650), showed no significant effect on the IL-8 secretion in U87-ΔEGFR cells demonstrating specificity for IL-6. AD-15660 caused a moderate increase in IL-8 production.

In vitro dose-response analysis: The five siRNAs that showed the least non-specific effects were selected, transfected into U87-ΔEGFR cells in serial 1:5 dilutions starting at 100 nM and compared to a control siRNA at 100 nM.

ELISA analysis demonstrated that the 5 IL-6-specific siRNAs tested (AD-15644, -15649, -15650, -15657 and -15660) reduced significantly the secretion of IL-6 when transfected into U87-ΔEGFR cells at doses as low as 0.8 nM (FIG. 13A). The concentration of IL-8 was also measured in these samples (FIG. 13B) showing that siRNAs AD-15650 and AD-15660 caused the least significant reduction in IL-8 secretion when compared to control siRNA.

In Vitro Durability Test:

ELISA analysis demonstrated that two out of four IL-6-specific siRNAs analyzed (AD-15644 and AD-15660) were capable of maximally reducing IL-6 secretion in U87-ΔEGFR cells as far as day 7 after siRNA transfection. At day 14 these two siRNAs were still able to suppress IL-6 expression. siRNA AD-15650 was capable of suppression of IL-6 secretion only until day three, and AD-15657 only until day 7 (FIG. 14).

In Vitro Proliferation Test:

The proliferation of U87-ΔEGFR transfected with siRNAs AD-15644, -15650, and -15660 was monitored in vitro for 6 days, and compared with cells non transfected or transfected with a control siRNA. Only AD-15644 and AD-15660 had no effect on cell proliferation, while AD-15650 almost completely blocked cell proliferation in vitro.

Ex Vivo Experiments:

U87-ΔEGFR cells were transfected with 25 nM siRNA and injected subcutaneously into nude mice. Treatment with siRNAs AD-15644 and AD-15660 resulted in no substantial reduction of U87-ΔEGFR tumor growth (FIGS. 15A and 15B). As a negative control, cells non transfected or transfected with an irrelevant Luciferase siRNA were included in the study. In both groups, substantial tumor growth occurred.

In Vivo siRNA Delivery:

Two siRNAs (AD-15644 and AD-15660) that demonstrated specificity for IL-6 and showed durable, low dose knock-down were chosen for in vivo studies. Nude mice were injected subcutaneously with 1×10⁶ U87wt or U87Δ cells or with U87wt+U87Δ (90:10%) (FIGS. 9A and 9B) and monitored until tumors reached 80 mm³ whereupon ten micrograms of AD-15644 or AD-15660 siRNA against IL-6 or an siRNA against Luciferase gene were injected intratumorally every two days. Tumor growth kinetics (FIG. 16A) and tumor volume (FIG. 16B) at the end of the experiment was reduced in tumors treated with IL-6 specific siRNA AD-15660, but not in tumors treated with an siRNA against luciferase or with AD-15644 siRNA. These results illustrate that the emergence of the ΔEGFR oncogene during gliomagenesis not only conveys a cell intrinsic growth potential but also establishes a cell extrinsic potentiation loop to neighboring cells expressing the amplified antecedent genetic lesion. These results also illustrate a potential therapeutic use of IL-6 siRNA to inhibit the tumor enhancement conferred by ΔEGFR on cells over-expressing wtEGFR and demonstrate a role for this cytokine in driving glioma heterogeneity.

Example 10 IL-6 Enhances Heterogeneous Tumorigenic Growth

To determine whether the over-expression of IL-6 was a mediator of U87wt tumor enhancement through its secretion from U87Δ cells, U87Parental cells, which lack the ability to enhance U87wt tumor growth (FIG. 1A), were engineered to over-express IL-6 (U87Par-IL6). U87wt alone or mixed with U87Δ, U87Parental or U87Par-IL6 were injected subcutaneously into nude mice (1×10⁶ total cells) at a ratio of 90:10% (FIG. 17A) and resultant tumor volumes were measured over 32 days. As controls, mice were injected with 10% of the total cell number (1×10⁵ cells) of U87Δ, U87Parental and U87Par-IL6 cells. As shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, U87Par-IL6 did not grow faster than U87Parental. When they were mixed with U87wt cells, tumor growth kinetics were much faster for the U87wt+U87Par-IL6 mixture than for U87wt+U87Par demonstrating a paracrine tumor enhancement effect mediated by IL-6 secretion in these composite tumors. Even though U87Parental and U87Par-IL6 grew more slowly than U87Δ, we observed a potent tumor enhancement when U87wt were injected with U87Par-IL6 with tumor volumes being nearly double that of U87wt tumors by the end of the experiment (FIG. 17B). In accordance with the previous results, CM generated from U87Parental-IL6 was able to potently enhanced U87wt colony formation in the in vitro soft agar colony formation assays (FIG. 18). U87Parental-IL6 CM was able to enhance U87wt colony formation with the same efficiency as U87Δ CM (p>0.05). In contrast, U87Parental CM was unable to enhance colony formation, and no significant differences were found when U87wt cells were treated with U87Parental or normal media (p>0.05).

Example 11 siRNA-Mediated Reduction of U87Δ-Produced IL-6 Inhibits Soft Agar Colony Formation of U87wt Cells

Two siRNAs targeting IL-6 (AD-15644 and AD-15660) were studied in an in vitro soft agar colony formation assay (FIG. 19). 5×10⁵ U87Δ cells, U87Δ cells transfected with 25 nM luciferase siRNA or U87Δ cells transfected with 25 nM of a mixture of AD-15644 and AD-15660 (12.5 nM each) were plated in 10 cm² dishes with 10 ml DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS, penicillin/streptomycin and L-Glutamine, and media was collected after 48 hours. Conditioned medium (CM) or normal medium was filtered and used in the upper layer of agar as well as on top of the agar. Briefly, the bottom layer of agar was prepared by mixing equal volumes of 1.2% agar (USB Corporation) and 2×DMEM/20% FBS solutions. Two ml of the resulting 0.6% agar/1×DMEM/10% FBS solution was added to each well of 6 well/plates and let to solidify at room temperature. The upper layer containing 2.5×10³ U87wt cells was prepared by mixing equal volumes of 1.2% agar, 2×DMEM/20% FBS and conditioned media or normal media. Plates were kept at room temperature until top agar solidified and treatment media was added on top of the agar. Plates were placed at 37° C./5% CO₂ for three weeks. Once a week, media on top of the agar was replaced with fresh media. Every treatment was performed in triplicate. After three weeks, plates were stained with 0.005% crystal violet solution and pictures were taken using a digital camera illuminated with white light. Colonies were counted using Image Pro-Analyzer 6.2 Software.

CM generated from U87Δ cells transfected with siRNA against the irrelevant luciferase gene (Δ CM Luc siRNA) resulted in a significant increase in colony number (** p<0.01). In contrast, CM generated from U87Δ cells transfected with a mixture of the IL-6 siRNAs AD-15644 and AD-15660 (Δ CM IL-6 siRNA) resulted in a reduction in soft agar colony number to levels comparable to normal growth media. These results demonstrate that IL-6 produced from U87Δ cells has an important role in the promotion of U87wt cell proliferation, and that siRNAs targeting IL-6 inhibit this promotion of U87wt cell proliferation.

Example 12 siRNA-Mediated Reduction of U87Δ-Produced IL-6 Inhibits Tumor Growth Enhancement of U87wt Cells

To study the effect of IL-6 secretion from U87Δ cells on tumor growth enhancement, U87Δ cells were transfected with a 25 nM dose of a combination of IL-6 siRNAs AD-15644 and AD-15660, or an siRNA against the irrelevant luciferase gene as a negative control. 1.3×10⁶ U87Δ cells were seeded in 10 cm plates and the following day were transfected using Lipofectamine™ 2000 (Invitrogen) and a mixture of IL-6 siRNAs AD-15644 and AD-15660 at a concentration of 12.5 nM each, or an siRNA against the luciferase gene at a concentration of 25 nM. After 18 hours of transfection, the media was changed and cells were partitioned into larger plates. The transfected U87Δ cells (10⁵ cells per mouse, 10%) were injected subcutaneously into nude mice alone or mixed with U87wt cells (9×10⁵ cells per mouse, 90%). Tumors were measured starting at day 5 after injection and volumes were calculated as described above.

As shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, there was no significant difference in tumor volume between U87Δ cells transfected with IL-6 siRNAs or with luciferase siRNA when injected alone (p>0.05). However, tumor volume was significantly reduced when U87wt cells were mixed with U87Δ cells transfected with IL-6 siRNAs compared to U87Δ cells transfected with luciferase siRNA (p<0.05). Tumor volumes obtained at the end of the experiment when U87Δ cells were transfected with IL-6 siRNAs and mixed with U87wt were similar to the sum of the volumes obtained after injection of U87wt (90%) and U87Δ (10%) indicating a reduction in the proliferation enhancement of U87wt cells induced by U87Δ cells (FIGS. 20A and 20B). This reduction of U87wt contribution to tumor volume was confirmed when we analyzed the cell composition by flow cytometry. A significant reduction in the proportion of U87wt cells was detected in mixed tumors where IL-6 was knocked-down (41.8±2.73% U87wt cells in U87wt+U87Δ-Luciferase siRNA tumors vs. 32.87±2.28% U87wt cells in U87wt+U87Δ-IL6 siRNA tumors). These results illustrate a potential therapeutic use of IL-6 siRNAs to inhibit the tumor enhancement conferred by ΔEGFR on cells over-expressing wtEGFR.

TABLE 5 Modified siRNAs As targeting IL-6. Target position of 5′ base of S SEQ AS SEQ sense strand Oligo ID Sense (S) Oligo ID Antisense (AS) Duplex Name (see FIG. 11) Name NO: Oligo Sequence (5′ to 3′) Name NO: Oligo Sequence (5′ to 3′) AD-15637 803 25860  82 AAAAGuAuGAGcGuuAGGAdTsdT 25861  83 UCCuAACGCUcAuACUUUUdTsdT AD-15638 223 25862  84 uGAcAAAcAAAuucGGuAcdTsdT 25863  85 GuACCGAAUUUGUUUGUcAdTsdT AD-15639 802 25864  86 uAAAAGuAuGAGcGuuAGGdTsdT 25865  87 CCuAACGCUcAuACUUUuAdTsdT AD-15640 804 25866  88 AAAGuAuGAGcGuuAGGAcdTsdT 25867  89 GUCCuAACGCUcAuACUUUdTsdT AD-15641 234 25868  90 uucGGuAcAuccucGAcGGdTsdT 25869  91 CCGUCGAGGAUGuACCGAAdTsdT AD-15642 235 25870  92 ucGGuAcAuccucGAcGGcdTsdT 25871  93 GCCGUCGAGGAUGuACCGAdTsdT AD-15643 222 25872  94 uuGAcAAAcAAAuucGGuAdTsdT 25783  95 uACCGAAUUUGUUUGUcADdTsdT AD-15644 809 25874  96 AuGAGcGuuAGGAcAcuAudTsdT 25875  97 AuAGUGUCCuAACGCUcAUdTsdT AD-15645 231 25876  98 AAAuucGGuAcAuccucGAdTsdT 25877  99 UCGAGGAUGuACCGAAUUUdTsdT AD-15646 425 25878 100 GAGuuuGAGGuAuAccuAGdTsdT 25879 101 CuAGGuAuACCUcAAACUCdTsdT AD-15647 542 25880 102 AAucuAGAuGcAAuAAccAdTsdT 25881 103 UGGUuAUUGcAUCuAGAUUdTsdT AD-15648 805 25882 104 AAGuAuGAGcGuuAGGAcAdTsdT 25883 105 UGUCCuAACGCUcAuACUUdTsdT AD-15649 806 25884 106 AGuAuGAGcGuuAGGAcAcdTsdT 25885 107 GUGUCCuAACGCUcAuACUdTsdT AD-15650 1009 25886 108 AGuGuAGGcuuAccucAAAdTsdT 25887 109 UUUGAGGuAAGCCuAcACUdTsdT AD-15651 422 25888 110 uuGGAGuuuGAGGuAuAccdTsdT 25889 111 GGuAuACCUcAAACUCcAAdTsdT AD-15652 225 25890 112 AcAAAcAAAuucGGuAcAudTsdT 25891 113 AUGuACCGAAUUUGUUUGUdTsdT AD-15653 808 25892 114 uAuGAGcGuuAGGAcAcuAdTsdT 25893 115 uAGUGUCCuAACGCUcAuAdTsdT AD-15654 210 25894 116 cuucAGAAcGAAuuGAcAAdTsdT 25895 117 UUGUcAAUUCGUUCUGAAGdTsdT AD-15655 680 25896 118 cuGAGGGcucuucGGcAAAdTsdT 25897 119 UUUGCCGAAGAGCCCUcAGdTsdT AD-15656 636 25898 120 cucAucucAuucuGcGcAGdTsdT 25899 121 CUGCGcAGAAUGAGAUGAGdTsdT AD-15657 1004 25900 122 uGGAAAGuGuAGGcuuAccdTsdT 25901 123 GGuAAGCCuAcACUUUCcAdTsdT AD-15658 691 25902 124 ucGGcAAAuGuAGcAuGGGdTsdT 25903 125 CCcAUGCuAcAUUUGCCGAdTsdT AD-15659 543 25904 126 AucuAGAuGcAAuAAccAcdTsdT 25905 127 GUGGUuAUUGcAUCuAGAUdTsdT AD-15660 811 25906 128 GAGcGuuAGGAcAcuAuuudTsdT 25907 129 AAAuAGUGUCCuAACGCUCdTsdT

TABLE 6 Unmodified siRNAs targeting IL-6. Position of 5′ base of sense strand on transcript SEQ Sense (S) SEQ Antisense (AS) (see FIG. 11) ID NO: Oligo Sequence (5′ to 3′) ID NO: Oligo Sequence (5′ to 3′) 803 130 AAAAGUAUGAGCGUUAGGA 131 UCCUAACGCUCAUACUUUU 223 132 UGACAAACAAAUUCGGUAC 133 GUACCGAAUUUGUUUGUCA 802 134 UAAAAGUAUGAGCGUUAGG 135 CCUAACGCUCAUACUUUUA 804 136 AAAGUAUGAGCGUUAGGAC 137 GUCCUAACGCUCAUACUUU 234 138 UUCGGUACAUCCUCGACGG 139 CCGUCGAGGAUGUACCGAA 235 140 UCGGUACAUCCUCGACGGC 141 GCCGUCGAGGAUGUACCGA 222 142 UUGACAAACAAAUUCGGUA 143 UACCGAAUUUGUUUGUCAA 809 144 AUGAGCGUUAGGACACUAU 145 AUAGUGUCCUAACGCUCAU 231 146 AAAUUCGGUACAUCCUCGA 147 UCGAGGAUGUACCGAAUUU 425 148 GAGUUUGAGGUAUACCUAG 149 CUAGGUAUACCUCAAACUC 542 150 AAUCUAGAUGCAAUAACCA 151 UGGUUAUUGCAUCUAGAUU 805 152 AAGUAUGAGCGUUAGGACA 153 UGUCCUAACGCUCAUACUU 806 154 AGUAUGAGCGUUAGGACAC 155 GUGUCCUAACGCUCAUACU 1009 156 AGUGUAGGCUUACCUCAAA 157 UUUGAGGUAAGCCUACACU 422 158 UUGGAGUUUGAGGUAUACC 159 GGUAUACCUCAAACUCCAA 225 160 ACAAACAAAUUCGGUACAU 161 AUGUACCGAAUUUGUUUGU 808 162 UAUGAGCGUUAGGACACUA 163 UAGUGUCCUAACGCUCAUA 210 164 CUUCAGAACGAAUUGACAA 165 UUGUCAAUUCGUUCUGAAG 680 166 CUGAGGGCUCUUCGGCAAA 167 UUUGCCGAAGAGCCCUCAG 636 168 CUCAUCUCAUUCUGCGCAG 169 CUGCGCAGAAUGAGAUGAG 1004 170 UGGAAAGUGUAGGCUUACC 171 GGUAAGCCUACACUUUCCA 691 172 UCGGCAAAUGUAGCAUGGG 173 CCCAUGCUACAUUUGCCGA 543 174 AUCUAGAUGCAAUAACCAC 175 GUGGUUAUUGCAUCUAGAU 811 176 GAGCGUUAGGACACUAUUU 177 AAAUAGUGUCCUAACGCUC

TABLE 7 siRNAs targeting IL-6 and modified with 3′ dinucleotide (NN) overhang. Position of 5′ base of sense strand on transcript SEQ Sense (S) SEQ Antisense (AS) (see FIG. 11) ID NO: Oligo Sequence (5′ to 3′) ID NO: Oligo Sequence (5′ to 3′) 803 178 AAAAGUAUGAGCGUUAGGANN 179 UCCUAACGCUCAUACUUUUNN 223 180 UGACAAACAAAUUCGGUACNN 181 GUACCGAAUUUGUUUGUCANN 802 182 UAAAAGUAUGAGCGUUAGGNN 183 CCUAACGCUCAUACUUUUANN 804 184 AAAGUAUGAGCGUUAGGACNN 185 GUCCUAACGCUCAUACUUUNN 234 186 UUCGGUACAUCCUCGACGGNN 187 CCGUCGAGGAUGUACCGAANN 235 188 UCGGUACAUCCUCGACGGCNN 189 GCCGUCGAGGAUGUACCGANN 222 190 UUGACAAACAAAUUCGGUANN 191 UACCGAAUUUGUUUGUCAANN 809 192 AUGAGCGUUAGGACACUAUNN 193 AUAGUGUCCUAACGCUCAUNN 231 194 AAAUUCGGUACAUCCUCGANN 195 UCGAGGAUGUACCGAAUUUNN 425 196 GAGUUUGAGGUAUACCUAGNN 197 CUAGGUAUACCUCAAACUCNN 542 198 AAUCUAGAUGCAAUAACCANN 199 UGGUUAUUGCAUCUAGAUUNN 805 200 AAGUAUGAGCGUUAGGACANN 201 UGUCCUAACGCUCAUACUUNN 806 202 AGUAUGAGCGUUAGGACACNN 203 GUGUCCUAACGCUCAUACUNN 1009 204 AGUGUAGGCUUACCUCAAANN 205 UUUGAGGUAAGCCUACACUNN 422 206 UUGGAGUUUGAGGUAUACCNN 207 GGUAUACCUCAAACUCCAANN 225 208 ACAAACAAAUUCGGUACAUNN 209 AUGUACCGAAUUUGUUUGUNN 808 210 UAUGAGCGUUAGGACACUANN 211 UAGUGUCCUAACGCUCAUANN 210 212 CUUCAGAACGAAUUGACAANN 213 UUGUCAAUUCGUUCUGAAGNN 680 214 CUGAGGGCUCUUCGGCAAANN 215 UUUGCCGAAGAGCCCUCAGNN 636 216 CUCAUCUCAUUCUGCGCAGNN 217 CUGCGCAGAAUGAGAUGAGNN 1004 218 UGGAAAGUGUAGGCUUACCNN 219 GGUAAGCCUACACUUUCCANN 691 220 UCGGCAAAUGUAGCAUGGGNN 221 CCCAUGCUACAUUUGCCGANN 543 222 AUCUAGAUGCAAUAACCACNN 223 GUGGUUAUUGCAUCUAGAUNN 811 224 GAGCGUUAGGACACUAUUUNN 225 AAAUAGUGUCCUAACGCUCNN

TABLE 8 siRNAs targeting IL-6 and modified with 3′ dithymidine (dTdT) overhang. Position of 5′ base of sense strand on transcript SEQ Sense (S) SEQ Antisense (AS) (see FIG. 11) ID NO: Oligo Sequence (5′ to 3′) ID NO: Oligo Sequence (5′ to 3′) 803 226 AAAAGUAUGAGCGUUAGGAdTdT 227 UCCUAACGCUCAUACUUUUdTdT 223 228 UGACAAACAAAUUCGGUACdTdT 229 GUACCGAAUUUGUUUGUCAdTdT 802 230 UAAAAGUAUGAGCGUUAGGdTdT 231 CCUAACGCUCAUACUUUUAdTdT 804 232 AAAGUAUGAGCGUUAGGACdTdT 233 GUCCUAACGCUCAUACUUUdTdT 234 234 UUCGGUACAUCCUCGACGGdTdT 235 CCGUCGAGGAUGUACCGAAdTdT 235 236 UCGGUACAUCCUCGACGGCdTdT 237 GCCGUCGAGGAUGUACCGAdTdT 222 238 UUGACAAACAAAUUCGGUAdTdT 239 UACCGAAUUUGUUUGUCAAdTdT 809 240 AUGAGCGUUAGGACACUAUdTdT 241 AUAGUGUCCUAACGCUCAUdTdT 231 242 AAAUUCGGUACAUCCUCGAdTdT 243 UCGAGGAUGUACCGAAUUUdTdT 425 244 GAGUUUGAGGUAUACCUAGdTdT 245 CUAGGUAUACCUCAAACUCdTdT 542 246 AAUCUAGAUGCAAUAACCAdTdT 247 UGGUUAUUGCAUCUAGAUUdTdT 805 248 AAGUAUGAGCGUUAGGACAdTdT 249 UGUCCUAACGCUCAUACUUdTdT 806 250 AGUAUGAGCGUUAGGACACdTdT 251 GUGUCCUAACGCUCAUACUdTdT 1009 252 AGUGUAGGCUUACCUCAAAdTdT 253 UUUGAGGUAAGCCUACACUdTdT 422 254 UUGGAGUUUGAGGUAUACCdTdT 255 GGUAUACCUCAAACUCCAAdTdT 225 256 ACAAACAAAUUCGGUACAUdTdT 257 AUGUACCGAAUUUGUUUGUdTdT 808 258 UAUGAGCGUUAGGACACUAdTdT 259 UAGUGUCCUAACGCUCAUAdTdT 210 260 CUUCAGAACGAAUUGACAAdTdT 261 UUGUCAAUUCGUUCUGAAGdTdT 680 262 CUGAGGGCUCUUCGGCAAAdTdT 263 UUUGCCGAAGAGCCCUCAGdTdT 636 264 CUCAUCUCAUUCUGCGCAGdTdT 265 CUGCGCAGAAUGAGAUGAGdTdT 1004 266 UGGAAAGUGUAGGCUUACCdTdT 267 GGUAAGCCUACACUUUCCAdTdT 691 268 UCGGCAAAUGUAGCAUGGGdTdT 269 CCCAUGCUACAUUUGCCGAdTdT 543 270 AUCUAGAUGCAAUAACCACdTdT 271 GUGGUUAUUGCAUCUAGAUdTdT 811 272 GAGCGUUAGGACACUAUUUdTdT 273 AAAUAGUGUCCUAACGCUCdTdT

TABLE 9 Effect of IL-6 siRNAs on IL-6 and IL-8 gene expression. siRNA IL-6 IL-8 Durability (days) AD-15637 + + x AD-15638 + + x AD-15639 + + x AD-15640 + + x AD-15641 + − x AD-15642 +/− x x AD-15643 + x x AD-15644 + − ≧14 AD-15645 + x x AD-15646 + x x AD-15647 − x x AD-15648 + + x AD-15649 + + x AD-15650 + − 3-7 AD-15651 − x x AD-15652 + + x AD-15653 + + x AD-15654 − x x AD-15655 + x x AD-15656 − x x AD-15657 + +  7-14 AD-15658 + + x AD-15659 + + x AD-15660 + − ≧14 − = no reduction of expression + = reduction of expression +/− = small reduction of expression x = not determined Other embodiments are in the claims. 

1. A double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA), wherein said dsRNA comprises at least two sequences that are complementary to each other and wherein a sense strand comprises a first sequence and an antisense strand comprises a second sequence comprising a region of complementarity which is substantially complementary to at least a part of a mRNA encoding an delta-Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (deltaEGFR), and wherein said region of complementarity is less than 30 nucleotides in length.
 2. The dsRNA of claim 1, wherein said dsRNA comprises at least one modified nucleotide.
 3. The dsRNA of claim 2, wherein at least one of said modified nucleotides is chosen from the group of: a 2′-O-methyl modified nucleotide, a nucleotide comprising a 5′-phosphorothioate group, and a terminal nucleotide linked to a cholesteryl derivative or dodecanoic acid bisdecylamide group.
 4. The dsRNA of claim 2, wherein said modified nucleotide is chosen from the group of: a 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro modified nucleotide, a 2′-deoxy-modified nucleotide, a locked nucleotide, an abasic nucleotide, 2′-amino-modified nucleotide, 2′-alkyl-modified nucleotide, morpholino nucleotide, a phosphoramidate, and a non-natural base comprising nucleotide.
 5. (canceled)
 6. The dsRNA of claim 1, wherein the region of complementarity is between 19 and 21 nucleotides in length.
 7. The dsRNA of claim 1, wherein the dsRNA comprises a sense strand consisting of a sense strand sequence selected from Tables 2 and 3, and an antisense strand consisting of an antisense sequence selected from Tables 2 and
 3. 8. The dsRNA of claim 1, wherein the sense strand and the antisense strand are also substantially complementary to at least a part of an mRNA encoding a wildtype Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR).
 9. The dsRNA of claim 1, wherein the sense strand comprises a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, and the antisense strand comprises a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3.
 10. A cell containing the dsRNA of claim
 1. 11. A pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting expression of a deltaEGFR gene comprising the dsRNA of claim
 1. 12. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 11, further comprising a dsRNA comprising at least two sequences that are complementary to each other and wherein a sense strand comprises a first sequence and an antisense strand comprises a second sequence which is substantially complementary to at least a part of an mRNA encoding an Interleukin-6 (IL6), and wherein said region of complementarity is less than 30 nucleotides in length.
 13. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 12, wherein the IL6 dsRNA comprises a sense strand comprising a sequence selected from Tables 5-8, and an antisense sequence comprising an antisense sequence selected from Tables 5-8.
 14. A method of inhibiting deltaEGFR expression in a cell, the method comprising: (a) introducing into the cell the dsRNA of claim 1; and (b) maintaining the cell produced in step (a) for a time sufficient to obtain degradation of the mRNA transcript of the deltaEGFR gene, thereby inhibiting expression of the deltaEGFR gene in the cell.
 15. A method of treating a disorder mediated by deltaEGFR expression comprising administering to a human in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of the dsRNA of claim
 1. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the human has cancer. 17-19. (canceled)
 20. The method of claim 15, further comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a dsRNA comprising at least two sequences that are complementary to each other and wherein a sense strand comprises a first sequence and an antisense strand comprises a second sequence which is substantially complementary to at least a part of an mRNA encoding an IL6, and wherein said region of complementarity is less than 30 nucleotides in length.
 21. A vector comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes at least one strand of a dsRNA, wherein one of the strands of said dsRNA is substantially complementary to at least a part of an mRNA encoding a deltaEGFR and wherein said dsRNA is less than 30 base pairs in length.
 22. (canceled)
 23. The vector of claim 21, wherein the region of complementarity is 19 to 21 nucleotides in length.
 24. A cell comprising the vector of claim
 21. 25. A double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA), wherein said dsRNA comprises at least two sequences that are complementary to each other and wherein a sense strand comprises a first sequence and an antisense strand comprises a second sequence comprising a region of complementarity which is substantially complementary to at least a part of a mRNA encoding IL-6, and wherein said region of complementarity is less than 30 nucleotides in length.
 26. The dsRNA of claim 25, wherein the IL6 dsRNA comprises a sense strand comprising a sequence selected from Tables 5-8, and an antisense sequence comprising an antisense sequence selected from Tables 5-8.
 27. A method of treating a disorder mediated by IL-6 expression comprising administering to a human in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of the dsRNA of claim
 25. 